Experts have warned of the need for Nigerian households and businesses to have their wells and boreholes tested and treated periodically because of the hazards of waterborne diseases and poorly disposed toxic chemicals.
They say this is especially important because over 63 million Nigerians drink water from wells and boreholes, and 57 million do not have access to safe treated water, according to WaterAid.
WaterAid is an international organisation whose mission is to transform the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people by improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Adeoti Lukman, associate professor, Department of Geosciences, University of Lagos, said, “What needs to be done to have clean water depends on the terrain. We have two types of terrain, sedimentary (sandy and clayey) and basement complex terrain (rocky). The former is found around areas such as Lagos, Ogun and all of the Niger-Delta areas. The latter is found in areas such as Oyo, Osun and the Northern parts of Nigeria.”
Experts warn that this could contaminate the water and spread diseases. They call for adherence to the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) standards of 33 feet away from the septic tank.
A geology that works in an oil and gas industry, said “there’s need to treat our environment right as everything that is littered on the soil goes back to the ground, when water is not well treated, the waste toxic substance in the water, can cause danger to our health”.
Many Nigerians in Birning Gaye in Bauchi State; Abaji in Abuja; many parts of Ebonyi, and northern Nigeria do not have access to clean water, as their major source is either dirty flowing or still water.
According to Lukman, “The biggest challenge is that those digging the traditional well and boreholes do not do feasibility studies regarding the depth needed. Part of feasibility studies entails taking samples of the soil and water to a laboratory to ascertain it is safe for drinking.
“For instance, to get clean water around the Lekki, which is sedimentary terrain you must dig between 200 – 400 metres. Otherwise, you will be drinking water from the Atlantic Ocean. This applies to every form of well you are digging, when due diligence is not undertaken, surface water mixes with underground water and what you get is polluted and contaminated water,” Lukman noted.
“For basement complex areas, you have to dig until you hit a fractured zone from where you get clean drinking water,” he added.
Ikechukwu Ibeabuchi, CEO of MD Services, which produces Klopp Water Cure, a water treatment chemical, said many parts of Nigeria such as Ebonyi have a water-borne disease known as guinea worm, as there are not more than three firms in Nigeria producing water treatment chemicals.
Ibeabuchi said, “States are not even interested in water. If they are, they would be encouraging citizens to treat the water they drink.”
