ABSTRACT
Urban runoff and human activities have become a major source of surface groundwater pollution sources most in developing nations where most of their domestic and toilet waste and deposited. The river landzum is located in Bida, Niger State, Nigeria which is the major river in Bida. The study assessed the effect of urban runoff and human activities or some physic-chemical parameters of lanzum Bida, Niger State, Nigeria. After triplicate determination in the three sampling locations of river landzum the result of physiochemical paramaters obtained from laboratory analysis indicated that the quality of river water in the study area varies in value from location is location which was due to non-point source such as domestic, agriculture, local industries and commercial activities activities. As a result non-point source river landzum is considered unsafe for human consumption direct. The laboratory analysis revealed the following results pH value 7.0 which is considered as best and ideal within the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) compared to a lowest value of 646 obtained at Dokodza which is more acidic but slightly below the NIS standard. This reveals that the water may contain some ions which may be responsible at that point and it will be slightly sour if tested or drank. The study shows that the mean maximum temperature of (15.02±0.01Co), minimum turbidity value of 3.2±0.01, total solids (108.51±0.01mg/l and dissolved oxygen value of 3.92±0.01 which is below the NIS standard of 5.0 NTU. Total solids (108.51±0.01mg/l) was obtained. Human activities such as urbanization, farming water withdrawal civic constructions, local industries, effluent from commercial settings, domestic waste the waste the mentioned washed down to the drainage which is triggered by torrential rainfall resulted to the pollution of the river. The effect of urban runoff on the environment rated as 39.4% account for loss of properties, 29.7% displacement of people 2.5% loss of lives and 28.2% for loss of live and properties which is much more pronounced at Laruta, Bangaie, Wanigi, Dokodza, Bangbara, Tuti-Jiba areas respectively. This often resulted diseases caused when consumed contaminated water to such as cholera, dysentery and diarrhea, more often the contaminated water contain dangerous or toxic substance and disease causing organisms. Though, the water is purpose such as irrigation, local industries, some domestic uses spiritual uses and animal consumption. As such Government, NGOs and all stakeholders should formulate mitgitable measures to check human activities and treat water from any source before use.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Urban runoff is a by-product of the land’s interaction with rainfall, it remains on and moves along the land’s surface, it is the most visible of the many forms into which rainfall is converted (Ajai et al., 2011).Urban runoff has become a major source of surface and ground water pollution in most developing nations, where municipal waste streams are uncharacterized or segregated (Seiyaboh and Angaye, 2018).
Urban runoff as a contributing factor to poor river water quality of the river Landzun has been a source of concern to the inhabitants of Bida, Niger State. The characteristics of any water body may indicate its level of pollution (Abdullahi and Idabawa, 2012). According to Aliyu (2014), a great deal of information on river water quality may be evaluated from the climatic and geological conditions in the river basin. These two factors generally play a role in the quality of water available for use for different purposes. In most rivers, the normal or dry weather flow is made up primarily of water which seeps from the ground. However, most of the flow of a river is contributed during the high runoff or flood periods. During the period of high runoff, most rivers exhibit their most favourable chemical water characteristics. Ayobahan et al. (2014), suggests that although the river may contain extremely large amounts of suspended matter, the concentrations of dissolved substances are usually low, often only a fraction of that present during dry weather. However, there are some instances where high runoff may cause deterioration in water quality. For instance, if rain falls selectively on the watershed of a tributary which contributes poor-quality water to a comparatively good- quality river system, the water contributed may cause a transitory deterioration of the water quality in the system.
As stated by Strahler and Strahler, all rainfall, wherever it occurs carries with it a variety of ions, some introduced into the atmosphere from the sea surface, some from land surfaces undisturbed by man and some from man-made sources. The ions and other substances carried into the streams or rivers via rainfall may result to pollution. (Seiyaboh et al., 2018).
The pollution of water bodies from pollutant transport through surface runoff and uncontrolled discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage has been reported severally by Ige and Olasehinde (2008). Some of the identified effects of runoff water on such water bodies include nutrient enrichment, deterioration of the water qualities, destruction of spawning grounds for aquatic and marine life and generally killing of fish. Urban runoff carries contaminants, such as litter, food, human and animal waste, automobile fluids, industrial pollutants, fertilizers and pesticides to the beach creating health risks for people, killing marine life and contributing to localized flooding and beach closures (Mahmud et al., 2007).
Urban runoff is a major cause of urban flooding, the inundation of land property in a built-up environment caused by rainfall overwhelming the capacity of drainage systems, such as storm sewers which triggered by events such as flash flooding, storm surges, overbank flooding, or snow melt, urban flooding is characterized by its repetitive, costly and systematic impacts on communities are located within designated flood plains or near any body of water (Jena and Mohanty, 2005).
Water running off these impervious surfaces tends to pick up gasoline, motor oil, heavy metals, trash and other pollutants from roadways and parking lots are major sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are created as combustion by products of gasoline and other fossil fuels, as well as of the heavy metals nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium,
and lead (Angaye et al., 2015). Roof runoff contribute high levels of synthetic organic compounds and zinc from galvanized gutters. Fertilizers use on residential lawns, parks and golf courses is a measurable source of nitrates and phosphorus is urban runoff when fertilizer is improperly applied or when turf is over-fertilized (Nwidu et al., 2009).
Water plays a significant role in maintaining the human health and wealth: clean drinking water is now recognized as a fundamental right of human beings (Olatunji, et al., 2011). Around 780 million people do not have access to clean and safe water and around 2.5 billion people do not have proper sanitation. As a result, around 6-8 million people die each year due to water related diseases and disasters. Therefore, water quality control is a top-priority policy agenda in many parts of the world (Tubonimi, et al., 2010).
A number of scientific procedures and tools have been developed to assess the water contaminants. These procedures include the analysis of different parameters such as pH, turbidity, conductivity, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), and heavy metals. These parameters can affect the drinking water quality, if their values are in higher concentrations than the safe limits set by the World Health Organization (Ogwueleka, 2012) and other regulatory bodies. Pollution of a river first affects its chemical quality and then systematically destroys the community using the water and disrupting the delicate food web. Diverse uses of the rivers are seriously impaired due to pollution and even the polluters like industry suffer due to increased pollution of the rivers (Jay et al., 2007). River pollution has several dimensions and effective monitoring and control of river pollution requires the expertise from various disciplines. Pollution of river is a global problem (Arimieari et al., 2014).
The indiscriminate and large scale deforestation and over grazing in the watershed areas of river basins have caused soil erosion resulting in considerable silting of dams and shrinkage of river flows. This leads to the flooding of the rivers at the time of excessive rains. The disposal of waste leads to contamination of river and lakes chronically affecting the flora and fauna (Akpan, et al., 2012). According to surveys carried out on selected stretches of important rivers, it has been found that most of the rivers are grossly polluted. The domestic sewage discharged from a population of about two million gives rise to numerous water- borne diseases like typhoid, cholera, dysentery, poliomyelitis and cysticercosis, thereby affecting the human health and deterioration of the water quality (Laah, 2018).
1.2 Statement of the Research Problem
River Landzun in Bida, Niger State has witnessed a lot of changes both in the river channel, river bank and water contents which was induced by urban runoff and human activities. It is in view of this objectives of these research work and the assessment of this task (research work) that the bed wilder factor to this broad field urban runoff and human activities draw its problem statement from the previous research work which depict a gap that arouse my interest to fill.
Egereonu, (2004) conducted a research on Landzun river, revealed that both in rural and urban areas lack access to surface water i.e large proportion of it is untreated safe which is usually consumed direct or indirectly which he attributed to seasonal variation induced by both anthropogenic activities and natural processes as culprits responsible for the contamination of streams and rivers. It also revealed that untreated state of landzun river is beyond the set standard by Adnan et al. (2010) for drinking water. The intake of untreated surface water is a vehicle for potential water-borne diseases and allergies.
According to the data by the World Health Organization (WHO), the indicator is a measure of the extent to which drinking water is contaminated by chemical contaminants and microbiological organisms and thus it can serve as a mechanism for warning or situations that require further in-depth investigation and actions necessary for the improvement of drinking water quality. The quest for unhindered access to safe and potable water for mankind takes priority on the agenda of many international organizations and developed countries. The United Nations Organization during its 2010 general assembly unequivocally reiterated that everyone is entitle to adequate, uninterrupted, safe, acceptable, physically accessible, and affordable water for personal and domestic purposes (Manjare et al., 2010).
Musa et al. (2013) opined that almost virtually developing nations lack regular monitoring of the physicochemical parameters of water bodies. According to the studies carried out by WHO, 2006, revealed that developing nations experienced limited studies of water quality and pollution status of rivers. Due to these above vaccum pointed out by Emitimi and Sylvester (2017); WHO (2006) and Basavara (2011) and other researchers that trigger my interest to come in so as to provide a solution to fill the gap, so as to come up with policy framework that will guide against water pollution and consumption of contaminated water.
1.3 Aim and Objectives
The aim of this research is to assess the effect of urban runoff and human activities on some physic-chemical parameters of river landzun, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.
Objectives
i. To examine the socioeconomic impacts of river Landzun.
ii. To identify the pollution sources of river Landzun.
iii. To analyze some physic-chemical parameters of river landzun.
iv. To examine the health implication of consuming contaminated water in the study area.
1.4 Scope and Limitation of the Work
The area under study is River Landzun in Bida, Niger State. The study focused on effect of urban runoff and human activities on some physicochemical parameters of River Landzun. Three locations will be chosen; such as Dokodza, Tako Landzun as well as Wanigi areas respectively. One factor limiting this research was most of the health facilities lack departmental databases on drinking water quality and comprehensive records on water related diseases.
1.5 Significant of the Study
The significant of this study is to assess the effect of urban runoff and human activities in river landzun in Bida, Niger State, river landzun had been a source of water used for market garden or micro-farm, small scale industrial activities and domestic uses faced with a lot of alterations which was traced to human activities and runoff from the environment.
The study aimed to determine some physic-chemical parameters, how these parameters affects landzun river. Three locations will be chosen spatially along the water course to reflect a consideration of all possible human activities that are capable of affecting the quality of river landzun, the water samples collected will be analyzed for physicochemical parameters which include temperature, PH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, total solids, total dissolved solids, alkalinity and hardness of these selected sample points.
Another significance of this research is work to examine the socio-economic impact of landzun river, such as recreational, water supply for industrial uses, fishing, agriculture,
domestic uses etc. in other to assess landzun river with emphasis on runoff and human activities, identification of a alteration source, its highly appreciated such as urban waste disposal, agricultural runoff, animal waste, domestic waste etc. are all channel into the river channel. In view of the above, this study finds proper solution for runoff water and pollution of Landzun River.
1.6 Description of the study Area
1.6.1 Geographical location of the study area
Bida is located in the Niger valley in Niger State Nigeria within latitudes 90 and 90 90 North of the equator and longitude 50 560 and 60 040 East of Greenwich Meridian. The town has a projected population of 283,400 (NPC, 2017) and occupying a total land area of 37.545446km2 (Stark et al., 2000).
The Landzun river stream is 8.86km long, and about 5km lies within the city of Bida, with an overall west to east flow pattern and estimated the flow rate of 22.21m3s between 2010 and 2018 (Stark et al., 2000). Bida is a residential with little agricultural practice and trading, the town is also the main collection centre for the swamp rice cultivated in the flood plains of the Niger and Kaduna rivers.
1.6.2 Climate
The climate of Bida is the result of general atmospheric circulation of air masses over the earth modified by surface topography and elevation (Ojonigu and Sawa, 2009).
1.6.2.1 Rainfall
Between 1999 and 2019 in Bida is estimated to be 3.31mm, with the highest rainfall recorded in between August and September annually during normal raining year (Adebola et al., 2014).
1.6.2.2. Temperature
The middle Niger basin which Bida is located experiences high temperatures all the year round. The mean maximum temperature increases northwards from about 300C in Ilorin to about 370c in Zaria north of the basin (Ojonigu and Sawa, 2009).
1.6.3 Vegetation
Vegetation of the region lie in an ecological zone termed by plant geographers the northern Guinea Savanna, a designation which implies a wood land vegetation type dominated by Isoberliniadoka, i. tomeutosa, and undisturbed. Much of the vegetation cover has suffered profound anthropogenic modification. The main plant or physiographic communities now found in the area, in order of importance, are
i. Tree Savanna/cultivation park land,
ii. Shrub Savanna,
iii. Woodland and Savanna woodland,
iv. Fadama grassland
v. Riparian forest,
vi. Inselberg vegetation
The communities are largely an expression of climatic and edarphic factors which
have been modified by man’s activities. Jaiyeoba and Essoka (2009).
1.6.4. Geology and topography of the study area
Geologically, the study location sits on the northern hemisphere of the cretaceous mid-Niger, Bida or Nupe Basin, as it is locally referred to among Nigerian geologist Bida township falls on the northern section of the southern mid-Niger Basin, (Etim et al., 2013). Bida basin is made up of two distinct groups of rocks. These are the Precambrian Basement complex rocks and the cretaceous sedimentary rocks (Iguisi, 2009).
The basin is believed to be segmented into two sub-basins, the northern part called the Bida sub-basin and the southern part known as the southern. The landzun stream occupies part of the Northern Bida sub-basin. This sub basin is strategraphically made up of four geological units, Bida sand stone, Sakpe ironstone, Enagi siltstone and Batati ironstone. The Bida sandstone lies unconformably in the basement complex. Although, the contact between the formation and the basement is not clear, its estimated thickness in the Bida area (where the Landzun stream drains) is put at 2000-3000m based on airborne magnetometry. The study area topography is characterized by insulating landscape formed by dissected hills characteristic of the basement complex that make up the geology ( Iguisi, 2009).
This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research
EFFECT OF URBAN RUNOFF AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON SOME PHYSICO- CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF RIVER LANDZUN, BIDA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA
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