Sanitary Surveying and Water Quality Assessment in South-Western Nigeria

Sanitary risk factors are every unsanitary condition that could increase the risk of illness. The level of the risk may not be equal in magnitude as some may be higher than the other. However, inadequate water supply which often result to poor personal and environmental hygiene remains a major problem in the South-Western Nigeria. This study aims examining the use of sanitary surveying technique as an index for assessing water quality in South-Western Nigeria. In order to actualize the aim of the study, the objectives pursued are to: identify the purpose of sanitary surveying; undertake a comparism of samples taken using water quality analyzer and sanitary surveying; identify the major sanitary risk factors; explain the basic data required for sanitary surveying as well as highlight the relative significance of sanitary surveying to environmental planning and management as well as to elucidate how the sanitary surveying result can be used for planning purposes and policy formulation. The study focused on and limit its attention to the six (6) states that constitute the South-West Geopolitical zone of the country. These states are Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo. These States have very high population density that could be at the risk of water supply contamination if not properly addressed. Hand-dug wells were used as sample sources of water. The rationale behind the choice of hand-dug wells is that they form the major source of water supply in South Western States as over 2/3 of the buildings in the study area use well water as their main source of water or a viable alternative to tap water. It is therefore assured that if contamination from hand-dug well source of water supply can be curbed, then water borne diseases resulting from water pollution must have been adequately controlled.