Evaluating the quantity of sewage disposal for biogas production in University of Maiduguri students hostels, Nigeria

The price rise of fuels has stimulated a trend towards the use of alternative energy sources like biomass, solar, wind, geothermal, etc. Global energy crisis has generated interest in the use of human and animal waste which is a biomass source, as a substitute to fossil fuel for biogas generation. There is now a consensus in Nigeria, that renewable energy can play a significant role in the overall energy development of the nation. This study presents the quantity of sewage generated and deposited at the University of Maiduguri for biogas production. The sewage deposit is situated behind the works department of the university. This waste is channel to the deposit site from the student hostels of the University by a well designed sewage system. The total number of persons on the sewage system of the University of Maiduguri is obtained from the Student Affairs Division of the University as the sewage system connects only the students hostels but the actual number of students that used the hostel toilets and the quantity of water used in the toilets are obtained using a questionnaire. The data obtained in this study were recorded, analyzed and presented using Microsoft Excel application. The results of the study revealed that this sewage line serving 8272 students from the hostels generated a total quantity of 235870.38L (235.87m3) sewage per day which has pH value between 6.864 and 6.75. The study confirmed that sewage generated at University of Maiduguri has the potential to be used as resource to produce biogas which is sustainable, safer and cheaper. Use of the sewage for biogas production will also serve as a waste management source for the University.