Ground water in Nigerian urban centres: problems and options.

Results of a groundwater study in Nigeria in some of the major cities in the southern part, Lagos, Ibadan; in the eastern part, Warri, Benin, and Aba, and in northern part, Kano and Jos indicates that the quality of waters fell far below the WHO recommended levels for some of the quality parameters. The levels of nitrate, lead and coliform index were particularly far above the WHO limits, and some of the waters have higher levels of iron with low pH values. The quality is poor in high density or low-income areas. In addition Lagos waters also showed intrusion of salinity in the localities closer to the coast. Poor ground water quality was attributed to intrusion of sullage or gray water, indiscriminate defecation, and dumping of household refuse, industrial and hazardous wastes around the premises. Lead from locally produced gasoline and heavy road traffic in the urban centres, seepage of various leachates, inadequate governmental policies and poor implementation strategies, and indifferent attitudes of communities to the environment are some of the other identified reasons.