GROUNDWATER DEVELOPMENT FOR PORTABLE WATER SUPPLY

1.1 Introduction

Groundwater is fresh water (from rain or melting ice and snow) that soaks into the soil and is stored in the tiny spaces (pores) between rocks and particles of soil. Groundwater accounts for nearly 95 percent of the nation’s fresh water resources. It can stay underground for hundreds of thousands of years, or it can come to the surface and help Fill Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands. Groundwater can also come to the surface as a spring or be pumped from a well. Both of these are common ways we get groundwater to drink. In most cases, groundwater is safer and more reliable for use than surface water, thus constituting a vital source for domestic and agricultural usage (Ogunlela et al., 2012).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Groundwater is an important source of drinking water for humankind. It contains over 90% of the fresh water resources and is an important reserve of good quality water and it is also used for agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities all over the world. In the last few decades, the ground water potential and its quality level in major cities and urban center’s is getting deteriorated due to the population explosion, urbanization, industrialization and also the failure of monsoon and improper management of rain water. The chemical composition of groundwater is a measure of its suitability as a source of water for human and animal consumption, irrigation, and for industrial and other purposes.

Nigeria has been richly endowed with groundwater resources. Groundwater occurs practically everywhere in the country despite the varied climatic and other environmental conditions. Offodile (2001) opined that, Nigeria has about 224 trillion litres/year of surface water and 50 million litres/year of groundwater for the population of about 128 million to cater for the domestic water consumption need of 6 billion litres/year. This shows that the groundwater is still untapped. Each geographic zone of Nigeria is characterized by its peculiar hydrogeological characteristics and groundwater potentials which need to be explored and exploited. While the far northern parts of the country fall under the typically harsh sahelian climatic zone with comparatively high relief under laid by essentially impermeable rocky formations, the southern areas are marked generally by high humidity with much higher rainfall, low lands and plains under laid by much more permeable sedimentary formations (Offodile, 2000).

Groundwater is the water beneath the earth surface that can be collected with wells, tunnels, drainage galleries and water that flows naturally to the earth surface via seeps or springs. It is the water that is pumped by wells and flows out through springs (Mays, 2001). According to Offodile (2000), the availability of groundwater in any given area depends on the hydrogeological characteristics of the under laying formation in the area.

The importance of groundwater exploration and exploitation to water supply cannot be over- emphasized and its advantage over surface water lies, however, in its availability in practically every part of the country even though in varying quantities (Mays, 2000). In the sahelian region of the north for example, surface water is either not available or only seasonal. The cost of development of groundwater is cheaper than that of surface water and the quality of the water is reasonably good requiring minimal treatment (Duggalk et al., 2007) and in most areas readily potable. Hence, groundwater is relevant in the supply of water to the rural and semi-urban areas of the country and in some cases even the urban town where surface water is unavailable.

Despite the potential of groundwater and the critical role it plays in the water-supply security of Nigeria, its development and management appear not to be attracting the attention it deserves (Madhaorao et al., 2006). Its development and management is under private rather than municipal initiative (Madhaorao et al., 2006). Groundwater is exploited rather haphazardly and indiscriminately by government, private institutions and individuals without any control, Organisation and management. This ugly scenario is consequent upon the failure to deliberately and intensively, integrates regional groundwater exploration and exploitation programs in the overall National Water Resources Development Program (Mays, 2000). The need to give commensurate attention to groundwater development headed and operated by relevant professionals has been very necessary. This need has arisen as a result of enormous groundwater development potential and obvious neglect of this sector of water Resources Development. As a result of the foregoing, this review paper aimed at identifying the challenges and problems militating against it and offering some guidelines leading to the proper planning, development and execution of groundwater schemes in Nigeria.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Groundwater Development for Portable Water Supply.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that groundwater is one of the most precious natural resources that need to be protected from deterioration. Seepage of industrial and extensive pumping has caused serious qualitative and quantitative problems in the aquifer. The final effluents from the industry can't be sent to the recycle or reuse purpose neither they can be discharged to open atmosphere and hence are discharged in a confined and more isolated place from the atmosphere like in soak pits advantage being they even act as filtration mediums. At some places, where there are no waste drains, industrial effluents are discharged directly into the groundwater, through an excavation in the soil serving as a soak pit, causing direct pollution of groundwater.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Groundwater Development for Portable Water Supply. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To examine the development and management of groundwater for water supply in Nigeria.
2. To identify the problems militating against the development and management of groundwater for water supply.
3. To present the discovered remedies to the challenges and problems making groundwater development and management difficult in Nigeria.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Are there problems militating against the development and management of groundwater for water supply?
• What do you understand by the development and management of groundwater for water supply in Nigeria?
• What are remedies to the challenges and problems making groundwater development and management difficult in Nigeria?

1.6 Significance of Study

Groundwater plays an important part in the petroleum engineering. Groundwater is an important source of water supply throughout the world. Its use in irrigation, industries, municipalities, and rural homes continues to increase. For instance in Nigerian villages there is high rate of dependence of its water source from a single dug well.

This study will be of immense benefit to academic students and other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.7 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on Groundwater Development for Portable Water Supply in Nigeria.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).