RAINWATER HARVESTING, QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND UTILIZATION IN KWALI AREA, FCT ABUJA

Publication Date : 01/08/2015


Author(s) :

M. M. Bello, M. Nike.


Volume/Issue :
Volume 10
,
Issue 2
(08 - 2015)



Abstract :

This study was conducted to assess domestic rainwater harvesting (DRWH) in Kwali Area Council, FCT Abuja dur-ing the rainy season of 2013. The people’s perception about rainwater harvesting, quality of the harvested rainwater, effect of roofing materials on the water quality, were all investigated. Questionnaire was used to collect information about the people’s perception and other information related to rainwater harvesting and utilization. Some chemical (pH, total dissolved solids, total hardness, nitrate, iron, chloride, chromium, zinc and copper) and microbiological properties of the harvested rainwater were determined using standard procedures as outline in the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. Samples were collected from three different roof types (corrugated iron sheets, asbestos roof and aluminum roof) commonly used in the area in order to investigate the effect of roof mate-rials on the water quality. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means were separated using the least significant difference (LSD). Results revealed that rainwater harvesting is widely practiced in the area and a large proportion of the people interviewed indicated their preference of rainwa-ter for cooking and drinking over other sources of water supply. The harvested rainwater was found to be of accepta-ble quality in terms of its chemical properties as all the parameters investigated were within WHO limit. The micro-biological quality was, however, poor as E. coli was detected in all the samples. Analysis of variance indicated that roofing materials have significant effect on some of the water quality parameters. Although people in the area are consuming the rainwater without any prior treatment, the presence of E. coli indicates that other pathogenic bacteria may be present in the water and thus poses threat to public health. It is therefore recommended that the rainwater be at least boiled prior to consumption.


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