Water pollution and its control in the context of physical planning. A case study of selected water bodies in Owerri.

Abstract

Owerri has faced water pollution problems for many years. These have created many social, physical economic technological and political issues in Owerri city. The general feeling among Owerri inhabitants is that supply of water in Owerri could be a nuisance. The survey method using questionnaire was adopted in the study. The stratified, random and systemic sampling techniques were used in two rivers and 480 respondents from six zones of the city. The result shows that there are pollutants in the Rivers Nwaorie and Otamiri. The study therefore highlighted the control measures for effective curbing of water pollution resulting from pollutants seeping into rusted galvanized iron pipes, flood/underground seepage of human and material wastes into River Nwaorie and Otamiri, streams Okitankwo/Onumurukwa which form the major sources of water in Owerri. The leading of contaminants from industrial wastes, agricultural wastes, oil spills, hazardous wastes and natural water wastes and other refuses. The study therefore concludes that the contribution of the State Government and the Municipality improving on provision of adequate manpower and training of stakeholders in the water industry, provision of solid quality materials for general maintenance, regular treatment of water from its in-take point and also borehole water, extension of tap water (pipe born water) to all the cranies of Owerri in order to stop completely the direct-use of water from Otamiri and Nwaorie Rivers which is injurious to health, provision of suggestion box in which the inhabitants could suggest further remedies for the provision of quality water keywords: Water Pollution; Rivers; Streams; Owerri City.