There is an impending global water crisis, yet thousands of water storage tanks in Nigeria are unwashed. Could that affect the quality of water in many homes? Yes.
As the United Nations projected a looming scenario where nearly six billion people would grapple with clean water scarcity by 2050, it has only become imperative to scrutinize potential sources of water contamination in and around Nigeria.
A researcher at the Water Institute at UNC, Dr Musa Manga who recently unraveled the challenges embedded in household water storage, revealed that the landscape is fraught with pitfalls that compromises water quality.
Also, A recent survey conducted through Google Forms accentuated the alarming reality – out of 213 respondents, a staggering 181 admitted neglecting to wash their water storage tanks for the past five years.
As urbanization surges and populations swell, the demand for water intensifies, exacerbating the stress on ground and surface water sources. Rapid urban growth in Nigerian cities at rates of 10 to 15 percent amplifies the strain, accompanied by escalating human activities like indiscriminate waste disposal and soil fertility remediation.
In the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal Six, ensuring universal access to safe drinking water, the focus extends to mitigating water contamination at various points in the supply system, notably distribution and storage. While organizations worldwide strive for improved water quality, contamination remains pervasive.
Water storage, a linchpin in indirect water supply systems, becomes a crucible for potential contamination.
Pressure Wash Nigeria highlights the favorable conditions for algae and bacteria buildup in confined tank spaces, emphasizing the necessity of thorough and regular water storage cleaning.
Environ Waste Nigeria Limited outlines a roster of potential contaminants lurking in water storage tanks, from dissolved particles and organic compounds to toxic metals and micro-organisms.
According to EWNL:
A list of contaminants possibly present in water storage tanks includes dissolved and suspended particles, organic compounds, including pesticides; toxic metals like lead and mercury, micro-organisms like protozoa, parasites, bacteria, and viruses; and additives like chlorine and fluorine, among others.
Culled in By Titi Ilesanmi
