Theses and Dissertations (Environ. Mgt)

Effect of Urban Waste on the Water Quality of Mmiriocha River in Abakpa, Enugu State

Fri, 01 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Effect of Urban Waste on the Water Quality of Mmiriocha River in Abakpa, Enugu State Anyanwu, Onochie Nnadozie The indiscriminate dumping of urban wastes in surface water bodies in urban and semi-urban areas in Nigeria has become a growing menace to humans and natural ecosystem. This study tried to access the effect of urban waste on Mmiriocha river quality located in Abakpa, Enugu state. Water samples were collected at four different points considering various human activities that generate and discharge wastes into the river such as abattoir, raw sewage from homes, open dumps along the river course, and were analysed following established standard for water quality analysis. Parameters assayed includes pH, turbidity, temperature, total hardness, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, nitrates, phosphates, electrical conductivity, coliform count, e.coli and aerobic mesophilic count. Data collected were analysed using analysis of variance statistical technique and the result obtained show that there is a significant difference between the concentration of the physicochemical and microbiological water quality parameter and the WHO standard and that the concentration of these parameters also vary significantly amongst the sampling points (P=0.000). There was an unacceptable increase of some of the assayed parameters above the threshold limit of WHO for domestic use such as the e.coli, coliform count, aerobic mesophylic count in all the four sampling points. Other parameters such as turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, chemical oxygen demand also showed increase above WHO threshold limit in various sampling points. The study has revealed that the indiscriminate dumping and discharging of urban waste into the river especially from the abattoir, drainages, from homes, open dumps has a significant adverse effect on the concentration of some of the assayed physicochemical and microbiological water quality characteristics and this poses a threat for the local community and ecosystem at large. It is recommended that effective management and provision of waste management facilities in addition to enforcing legal framework and public enlightenment is urgently required to ameliorate its nuisance level on water, health and environment at large.

Assessment of Solid Waste Disposal Pattern of Sellers in Mile One Market, Port Harcourt City Rivers State

Sat, 01 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Assessment of Solid Waste Disposal Pattern of Sellers in Mile One Market, Port Harcourt City Rivers State Davids, Boma Gloria The study sought to assess the solid waste disposal pattern of sellers in Mile One Market Port Harcourt in order to: identify the solid waste disposal habits of sellers, determine the frequency of clearing dumpsters from the market, determine accessibilityof waste dumpsters to market sellers and ascertain if the pattern of waste disposal significantly vary from different section of the markets.Data wereobtained throughinterviews, questionnaires and on the spot observation. A total of 290 questionnaires weredistributed tothe market sellers and 256 were properly filled and returned giving a return rate of 88.3%.Thirty questionnaires were issued to the Rivers State Waste Management Authority (RIWAMA) staff; and 30questionnaires were properly filled and returned giving a return rate of 100%. Data obtained were subjected to descriptive statistics andanalysed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA).Findings revealed thatwaste disposal pattern of sellers significantly vary with sellers’ accessibility to waste dumpsters at the Mile One Market at p < 0.05; Again, the results showed that the pattern of waste disposal does not significantly vary among the different sections of the market at p > 0.05.Findings revealed that 11% of the sellers dump their refuse at the dumpster while 89% dump their refuse at open spaces, by roadside and drainages.Thirty eight percentages (38%) of sellers evacuate their waste daily andabout 62% evacuate their waste twice a week and weekly. Only 22% of market sellers have easy access to waste dumpster.The study recommended provision of more waste disposal facilities, improved sellers-agency cooperation and adoption of integrated approach that recognizes the various stakeholders and elements necessary for a sustainable waste disposal practices in the market.

Flood Risk And Vulnerability Assessment Of Owerri Imo State

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Flood Risk And Vulnerability Assessment Of Owerri Imo State Chieke, Kingsley Flood is a water related natural hazard that affects a wide range of human activities. In the recent past many communities in Owerri have suffered losses as a result of flood. This work utilized Remote Sensing and GIS in flood risk mapping. Data on environmental indices were integrated in a GIS to perform risk / vulnerability assessment. The flood risk map produced and the ground truthing carried out confirmed that the area with the highest flood risk is located within CBN quarters, Owala, Owaelu in Uratta, Emii and Agbala communities. While areas like Works layout, Federal Government college Teachers quarter, Imo state University Staff School and Amakohia have medium risk of flood hazard. Pointer to flood hazard mapping assessed by administering questionnaire shows that physical location, poor waste management practice, inadequate/poorly constructed roads and drainages, rainfall and poor development control practices, account for 30%, 20%, 20%, 10% and 15% respectively of the response on cause of flood. Property information collected shows severity of flood in terms of number of buildings affected and impact on infrastructural facilities such as road. Vulnerability assessment was based on a combination of socio economic and environmental factors. The research confirmed that the causes of flood as well as the perception of flood risk vary in the study locations. A total of about 513.44 square kilometer of land was used for analysis. Out of this, 320.45km (62.41%) are not vulnerable, 79.56km (15.495%) have low vulnerability, 43.21km (8.415%) have moderate vulnerability while 70.22 (13.676%) have high vulnerability. The study concluded that vulnerability to flood is shaped by physical location, socio economic and environmental circumstances of everyday living. The study recommend Environmental education, monthly clean up exercises of drains, good development control practices, and further research on flood risk and vulnerability to ensure that area which this study has not covered is given attention.

Assessment of Urban Agriculture as a Means of Sustainable Urban Livelihood in Enugu Metropolis, Enugu State Nigeria

Mon, 01 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Assessment of Urban Agriculture as a Means of Sustainable Urban Livelihood in Enugu Metropolis, Enugu State Nigeria Iwueke, Nyainbau Tarinabo Urban agriculture is defined as the practice of farming within the boundaries of towns or cities. It is one of the most common informal sector activities of urban dwellers in Enugu. Farming in this sense involves crop cultivation, animal rearing and fish farming. In this definition of urban agriculture, the location of farms plays the most important role. Approximately half of the residents in Enugu are involved in the practice. This is similar to the rates in other towns/cities in sub-Saharan Africa. The nature of urban agricultural activities in Enugu was evaluated, and the benefit of the activities of urban agricultural practitioners in terms of income generation and poverty alleviation for a sustainable livelihood of the urban household was established. The three local government areas of Enugu North, Enugu South and Enugu East, were purposively selected for the study. This is because they all fall within the Enugu urban area. Purposive sampling technique was used to elicit information based on the perceived activities of Enugu urban farmers. Furthermore, stratified sampling technique was adopted in the study. The stratification was based on the prevalent farm types in the study area, viz: mixed farms, vegetable farms, fruit farms, floriculture, poultry, pig farms, goat-keeping and fish farms. The major urban agricultural activities are mixed crop cultivation (38.8 percent), Vegetable farming (27.2 percent), and production of fruits (1.7 percent), Fish farming (6.5 percent), Floriculture (1.6 percent), Poultry production (14.3 percent), Pig farming (6.6 percent), and Goat keeping (3.5 percent). In this study, women (52 percent) were found to be marginally more involved in urban agricultural activities than men (48 percent), perhaps because of the established central and cultural role of women in household food delivery. Three hypotheses were postulated and tested in the study. Hypothesis 1 stated that: The expenditure on farm inputs and income generated from urban agricultural activities has no significant relationship. Regression analysis was used to test this hypothesis. Although, the farm input: income ratio (percent) varied by farm type, there was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.944) between the expenditure on farm inputs and income generated from urban agricultural activities in Enugu Metropolis. Hypothesis 2 stated that: The incomes from urban agricultural activities by practitioners in Enugu Metropolis do not have significant effect on their household expenditure. The household expenditures considered included Labour, School Fees, Rent, Household Food and Savings. Regression analysis was also used to test for significant relationship between the income from urban agricultural activities by practitioners in Enugu Metropolis and their Household (HH) expenditure. There was a high correlation between income and labour (r = 0.966), income and total household food expenditure and savings (r = 0.970) the correlation between income and school fees was (r = 0.677) while income and rent was (r = 0.653). Hypothesis 3 states that: Incomes generated from urban agricultural activities do not significantly vary among the three Local Government Areas of Enugu Metropolis. This was tested using the One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The incomes generated from urban agricultural activities did not significantly vary among the three Local Government Areas of Enugu Metropolis (0.953>0.05). The study concluded that urban agricultural activities can be operated as a viable and sustainable economic, environmental, social and political system. To ensure that the full potentials of urban agriculture in reducing urban poverty are realized in Enugu, the following recommendations were made: (a) Community participation in municipal key decisions on urban agriculture (b) The development of linkages with other sectors in Government. (c) Integration of urban agriculture into the Nigerian cities' planning vision should be accompanied by policies that seek to expand the water supply infrastructure to accommodate urban agriculture. (d) National and local government should support affordable urban land tenure reforms or long-term leases for poor urban farmers. (e) Zoning codes should be revised to support urban food production.