Assessment of Domestic Wastewater Disposal in Anambra State, South-East Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue IV, April 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

Assessment of Domestic Wastewater Disposal in Anambra State, South-East Nigeria

Samuel Oji Iheukwumere¹, Philip O. Phil-Eze², Kelechi Friday Nkwocha³, Chukwuma Patrick Nwabudike⁴, Peter Peter Umeh⁵

^1,4Department of Geography and Meteorology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
²Department of Geography, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
³Department of Geography, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
⁵ Department of Geography, Nigerian Army University, Biu, Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract- The study evaluates the generation and disposal of domestic wastewater in ten locations in Awka urban, Anambra State, Nigeria. The study was conducted to identify high domestic wastewater generating sources across the locations and how the generated wastewater is disposed. The result showed that bathing, toilet flushing and cloth washing generated more wastewater. The most used method for toilet and bathroom wastewater disposal is the septic tank/soak-away method, while storm drain/gutter, open land and septic tank/soak-away are mostly used for kitchen wastewater. However, field observations show wastewater from bathrooms are disposed in storm drains in some cases, not minding the health implications. In the light of sustainability, the research recommends the installation of centralized wastewater treatment facility.

Keywords- Domestic wastewater, Domestic wastewater sources, Domestic wastewater disposal, Awka.

I. INTRODUCTION

Domestic Wastewater Management (DWWM) is one of the many basic strategies for keeping the environment clean and safe for human habitation (Christopher, 2013). Wastewater generated from residential areas should be properly collected, transported, and treated before it is released back into the natural environment or put to a more result oriented use. Domestic wastewater may not be totally a waste as the name may suggest, if it is well managed.
Domestic wastewater derives its name from water containing wastes or water that has already been used for domestic applications. Mara (2003) defined domestic wastewater as the water that has been used by a community and which contains all the materials added to the water during its use. It is thus composed of human body wastes (faeces and urine) together with the water used for flushing toilets, and sullage, which is the wastewater resulting from personal washing, laundry, food preparation and the cleaning of kitchen utensils. According to UNEP (2010), domestic wastewater can be viewed as any water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influence arising from domestic residences.

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