Assessment of water quality of rivers that serve as water sources for drinking and domestic functions in rural and pre-urban communities in Edo North, Nigeria

Effect of crude oil exploration and exploitation activities on soil, water and air in a Nigerian community

The continuous degradation of environmental ecosystems (land, water and soil) resulting from crude oil exploration and exploitation activities continues to gain global attention. This study investigates the effects of crude oil exploration and exploitation activities on soil, water and air in the study area. Soil samples were collected in three replicates at depths of 0-15 and 15-30 cm at sampling distances of 20, 100 and 200 m a from core oil exploitation operation area and a control point. Water samples were also taken from within the study area and analyzed using standard procedures. Major pollutants concentrations of particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) of the air were also measured using Air Quality Index (AQI). The results reveal that the soil, water and air parameters measured mostly at 20 m from the core oil operation area compromise the allowable standards provided for healthy living. In the same manner, some results at 100 and 200 m were slightly higher than the recommended values in some cases of heavy metals and bacteria activities in the soil. The AQI at 20 m was far above the permissible limit provided by the Environmental Protection Agency while others are gradually drawing towards the limit given for each pollutant. To safeguard the health of the residents of the host community and oil field workers, there is a need for proper and frequent environmental monitoring and assessment by authorized regulatory bodies in Nigeria. This will prevent any future exposure which may endanger the lives of the dwellers.

An appraisal of data collection, analysis, and reporting adopted for water quality assessment: A case of Nigeria water quality research

The appropriate acquisition and processing of water quality data are crucial for water resource management. As such, published articles on water quality monitoring and assessment are meant to convey essential and reliable information to water quality experts, decision-makers, researchers, students, and the public. The implication is that such information must emanate from data obtained and analysed in an up-to-date, scientifically sound manner. Thus, inappropriate data analysis and reporting techniques could yield misleading results and mar the endeavours of achieving error-free conclusions. This study utilises the findings on water quality assessment in Nigeria over the last 20 years to reveal the likely trends in water quality research regarding data collection, data analysis, and reporting for physicochemical, bacteriological parameters, and trace organics. A total of 123 Web of Science and quartile ranked (Q1-Q4) published articles involving water quality assessment in Nigeria were analysed. Results indicated shortcomings in various aspects of data analysis and reporting. Consequently, we use simulated heatmaps and graphs to illustrate preferred ways of analysing, reporting, and visualising some regularly used descriptive and inferential statistics of water quality variables. Finally, we highlight alternative approaches to the customarily applied water quality assessment methods in Nigeria and emphasise other areas of deficiency that need attention for improved water quality research.

Using Remote Sensing and Multivariate Statistics in Analyzing the Relationship between Land Use Pattern and Water Quality in Tien Giang Province, Vietnam

This study was carried out to understand how land use patterns influence surface water quality in Tien Giang Province using remote sensing and statistical approaches. Surface water quality data were collected at 34 locations with the frequency of four times (March, June, September, and November) in 2019. Water quality parameters were used in the analysis, including pH, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium (N-NH4+), nitrite (N-NO2−), nitrate (N-NO3−), sulfate (SO42−), orthophosphate (P-PO43−), chloride (Cl−), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and coliform. The relationship between land use patterns and water quality was analyzed using geographic information techniques (GIS), remote sensing (RS), statistical approaches (cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA), and Krustal–Wallis), and weighted entropy. The results showed water quality was impaired by total suspended solids, nutrients (N-NH4+, N-NO2−, P-PO43−), organic matters (BOD, COD), and ions (Cl− and SO42−). Kruskal–Wallis analysis results showed that all water quality parameters in the water bodies in Tien Giang Province were seasonally fluctuated, except for BOD and TN. The highest levels of water pollutants were found mostly in the dry season (March and June). The majority of the land in the study area was used for rice cultivation (40.64%) and residential (27.51%). Water quality in the study area was classified into nine groups corresponding to five combined land use patterns comprising residential–aquaculture, residential–rice cultivation, residential–perennials, residential–rice–perennial, and residential–rice–perennial crops–aquacultural. The concentrations of the water pollutants (TSS, DO, BOD, COD, N-NH4+, N-NO2−, Cl−, and coliform) in the locations with aquaculture land use patterns (Clusters 1 and 2) were significantly larger than those of the remaining land use patterns. PCA analysis presented that most of the current water quality monitoring parameters had a great impact on water quality in the water bodies. The entropy weight showed that TSS, N-NO2−, and coliform are the most important water quality parameters due to residential–aquaculture and residential–rice cultivation; EC, DO, N-NH4+, N-NO2−, Cl−, and coliform were the significant variables for the land use type of residential–perennial crops; N-NO2−, P-PO43−, and coliform for the land use pattern of residential–rice cultivation–perennial crops) and N-NH4+, N-NO2−, Cl−, and coliform for the land use pattern of residential–rice cultivation–perennial crops–aquaculture. The current findings showed that that surface water quality has been influenced by the complex land use patterns in which residential and rice cultivation may have major roles in causing water impairment. The results of the water quality assessment and the variation in water properties of the land use patterns found in this study provide scientific evidence for future water quality management.

A comprehensive review of water quality monitoring and assessment in Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populated black nation in the world with about 199 million people. About 66.3 million Nigerians do not have access to safe drinking water. In this study, research findings on water quality monitoring and assessment in Nigeria over the past two decades were systematically reviewed. There are still grave enforcement issues in Nigeria as quality guidelines are still being contravened at no cost to the infringer due to the corrupt socio-political circumstances of the country. The quality of surface water, groundwater, rainwater and commercially available water was discussed in line with their pollution sources. The quality of surface water was generally poor. Groundwater pollution has come due to landfill leachate, oil and gas exploration and production, sewage and hydrogeological interactions of the groundwater with the base rock. The hydrogeological effect has led to the observation of lead and barium in groundwater in many locations across the country. The main issue with rainwater in Nigeria is the low pH but it was observed to be fairly clean. Commercially available water (bottled or sachet) is currently the best source of drinking water for the Nigerian populace. Bottled water quality is higher than for sachet water and the latter largely influenced by microbe contamination. Future perspectives in water quality monitoring and assessment are suggested in the evaluation of emerging contaminants and micro-pollutants and the utilisation of internet-enabled technologies.

Sustained impact of the activities of local crude oil refiners on their host communities in Nigeria

The local refining of crude oil has become a lucrative but disturbing business in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Deep inside the forest of the Niger Delta camps are built and used for the local refining of crude oil. The economic benefits this brings to the refiners are clear, however the host communities are severely hit by the activities of the 'local crude oil refiners'. Farmlands have been destroyed and fishing settlements evacuated as a result of pollution of the rivers and estuaries, with loss of lives and properties. This research investigates the impact of the activities of the local refiners on their host communities' farmlands, rivers and estuaries. A quantitative research method was adopted in this study through the administration of questionnaires to local stakeholders (chiefs, the youth, farmers, traders, fishermen/fisherwomen and residents of affected communities). Quantitative data was collected from three communities in the Niger Delta with local refineries and the data was analysed using descriptive and inferential (Chi Square and Correlation) methods. The study demonstrates the high impact of the activities of the refiners on farmlands and fishing areas of the host communities and makes recommendations to all stakeholders in the upstream and downstream sectors of the petroleum industry. In addition, recommendations are made to the Nigerian government, on ways to address the impact of local refining on host communities.