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Comparative Assessment of Harvested Rainwater Quality From Different Roofing Materials in Petroleum Producing Community, Egbema, Rivers State, Nigeria
Comparative Assessment of Harvested Rainwater Quality From Different Roofing Materials in Petroleum Producing Community, Egbema, Rivers State, Nigeria
Comparative Assessment of Harvested Rainwater Quality From Different Roofing Materials in Petroleum Producing Community, Egbema, Rivers State, Nigeria
08063494654
Abstract: A comparative study of the quality of rain water from different roofing
materials was carried out in Egbema, an oil producing community in Rivers State.
While SO4, PO4, NO3, turbidity and hardness of the rain water samples were more in
asbestos and concrete roofs, the metallic ions, Zn, Fe, Al. Mn and Pb were statistically
(p=0.05) more in corrugated iron and aluminum roofs which also had higher
conductivity. Higher acidity was observed in the gas flaring area (Ebocha) compared to
Okwuzi, 3-4km away. This resulted in greater cation and anions in the rain water from
Ebocha compared to Okwuzi (P = 0.05). Seasonal effects showed that higher values
where obtained from the occasional rains of the dry season, followed by the early rainy
season rain water samples while the least were in the mid rainy season rain water.
Values from the late rains of rainy season were not statistically (P = 0.05) higher than the
mid rainy season ones, though they were slightly higher. More fungal counts were
recorded during the dry periods, followed by the heterotrophic bacteria with the least
being the coliforms. Higher microbial counts were found in the asbestos, followed by
the concrete roofs before the corrugated iron roofs and then the aluminum roofs. The
above observations were attributed to the acid rain formation due to the gas flaring
activities at Ebocha. Rainwater from the Egbema communities was therefore not
potable and safe for drinking purposes.
Keywords: Oil production, roof materials, gas flaring, dry and rain seasons
Introduction
W
ater is a very important and It is therefore very paramount to assess
indispensable natural and the quality before supply or use
environmental resource. (Babalola, 1990;Nwaugo et al., 2009a).
Adequate and safe water supply is very There are three major sources of
central in the development and domestic water supply to a community
sustenance of any nation (Babalola, which include - atmospheric water (rain
1997). The supply of potable water to water), ground water (borehole or
the human settlement requires very spring water) and surface water (rivers,
careful planning and implementation. streams, ponds) (Nwaugo et al., 2008,
*Corresponding author: 2009a). In the case of atmospheric water,
VO Nwaugo;vonwaugo@yahoo.com.
1Ugwuorah, A.U
the water passes through the air,
Copyright 2015 Nigerian Society for Microbiology dissolving soluble substances along its
trail before landing on roofs to run play primary role in the epidemiology
down the grills or directly on the earths of both communicable and non
surface. The contents of the roofs communicable diseases. It is therefore
therefore determine the contents of the on this note that this study was
harvested rain water in addition to the designed to assess the quality of
air quality (Nwaugo et al., 2009b). harvested rainwater from various types
The Nigerian environment has of roofing materials in gas flaring area of
been extensively inudated by the oil Egbema, Rivers State, Nigeria. In doing
exploration and exploitation activities this, the effect of seasonal changes was
(Ojeh, 2011; Ubouh, 2012). One of the taken into consideration too.
major issues in oil production is gas
flaring, which has characterized the Materials and Methods
Nigerian oil industry since the - The Study Area
discovering of oil in the late 1950s and The study area was Egbema, a
1960s. Several authors have stated that well known oil producing community in
gas flaring results in acid rain formation the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. Since
in the affected areas (Ubuoh, 2002; Obia the discovery of oil in 1960s in the area,
et al., 2011; Nwankwo and Ogagarue, the associated gas has been flared
2011). The acid rain therefore unabated till date, resulting in air
determines the quality of the rain water quality modification. Egbema lies at the
in addition to its effects on roofing northern apex of Rivers State at the
materials. boundary with Imo State while the exact
In the catchment or harvesting of location of the flare area is Ebocha
rain water the roofing materials play which lies at 5o41I and 6o4I.
very vital roles in the quality of the rain The study area has typical
water. The acid rain in gas flaring area rainforest climate and has two major
affects the roofing materials (Obia et al., seasons - dry and rainy season, though
2011; Campopiano et al., 2009, 2010) occasional rains can equally be
hence various substances will experienced at anytime of the year even
contaminate the water. Various at the peak of dry season.
materials have been used in the roofing
of buildings following the rapid Collection of Rainwater Samples
advancement of science and technology. A random sampling technique
Such materials used include corrugated was employed in choosing the buildings
iron sheets (commonly referred to as whose roofs were to be used in the
zinc), asbestos sheets, aluminum sheets, study. Four roofing materials were
plastics and concrete. These materials selected. These were asbestos,
have their advantages and corrugated iron sheet (zinc), aluminum
disadvantages which in the process sheets and concrete roofs. The roofs of
affect the comfort, esthetics and general the buildings were properly cleaned to
disposition of the building involved. remove all debris and particles before
The quality of the domestic water the study began. Care was taken to
its availability and quality play avoid any accidental contamination of
significant roles as determinant of the expected rainwater during and after
environmental health. The management collection. The water was collected as it
and supply of good domestic water also came off the roofs in very clean and
sterile plastic containers without
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Discussion
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1Ugwuorah et al.2015 Nigeria Journal of Microbiology 2015: 2972-2984
35
Al 1
30
Al 2
25
Asb 1
20
Asb 2
15 Zinc 1
10 Zinc 2
5 Conc. 1
Conc. 2
0
Control 1
Control 2
35
Al 1
30
Al 2
25
Asb 1
20
Asb 2
15 Zinc 1
10 Zinc 2
5 Conc. 1
Conc. 2
0
Control 1
Control 2
35
Al 1
30
Al 2
25
Asb 1
20
Asb 2
15 Zinc 1
10 Zinc 2
5 Conc. 1
Conc. 2
0
Control 1
Control 2
35
Al 1
30
Al 2
25
Asb 1
20
Asb 2
15 Zinc 1
10 Zinc 2
5 Conc. 1
Conc. 2
0
Control 1
Control 2
0.8
0.7
0.6 Fe
0.5 Zn
0.4 Al
0.3 Pb
0.2 Cr
0.1 Cd
0 Cu
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 Mn
0.6
Fe
0.5
Zn
0.4
Al
0.3
Pb
0.2 Cr
0.1 Cd
0 Cu
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 Mn
Fig 6; Metallic ions concentrations in the harvested rainwater (Early rainy season)
0.6
0.5
Fe
0.4 Zn
0.3 Al
Pb
0.2
Cr
0.1 Cd
0 Cu
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 Mn
0.6
0.5
Fe
0.4 Zn
0.3 Al
Pb
0.2
Cr
0.1 Cd
0 Cu
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 Mn
TCC 0.4 X 101 0.5 x 101 0.6 x 101 0.8 x 101 0.5 x 101 0.8 x 101 1.0 x 101 0.9 x 101 0.2 x 101 0.8 x 101
TFC 1.9 X 104 1.9 x 104 1.9 x 104 2.6 x 104 1.6 x 104 2.1 x 104 12.1 x 104 2.3 x 104 1.1 x 103 1.4 x 103
Early rainy season
THBC 1.2 X 104 1.9 x 104 2.0 x 104 3.0 x 104 1.4 x 104 2.5 x 104 1.9 x 104 2.6 x 104 1.1 x 102 1.3 x 102
TCC 0.5 X 101 0.8 x 101 0.9 x 101 1.1 x 101 0.5 x 101 0.9 x 101 0.8 x 101 1.0 x 101 0.2 x 101 0.4 x 101
TFC 1.6 X 104 2.4 x 104 1.9 x 104 3.2 x 104 1.8 x 104 2.9 x 104 2.0 x 104 3.0 x 104 1.3 x 102 1.6 x 102
Mid rainy season
THBC 1.4 X 102 1.6 x 102 1.9 x 102 2.1 x 102 2.1 x 102 1.4 x 102 1.8 x 102 1.3 x 102 1.2 x 101 1.4 x 101
TCC 0.3 X 101 0.5 x 101 0.6 x 101 0.8 x 101 0.8 x 101 0.3 x 101 0.5 x 101 0.3 x 101 0.2 x 101 0.2 x 101
TFC 1.4 X 102 1.6 x 102 1.9 x 102 2.4 x 102 2.4 x 102 1.5 x 102 2.9 x 102 1.8 x 102 1.6 x 101 1.9 x 101
Early dry season
THBC 1.1 X 103 1.8 x 102 1.9 x 102 2.2 x 102 1.6 x 102 2.0 x 102 1.4 x 102 1.6 x 102 1.2 x 102 1.0 x 101
TCC 0.2 X 101 0.5 x 101 0.5 x 101 0.6 x 101 0.4 x 101 0.5 x 101 0.5 x 101 0.5 x 101 0.3 x 101 0.3 x 101
TFC 1.5 X 103 2.0 x 102 2.0 x 102 2.2 x 102 1.9 x 102 1.9 x 102 1.4 x 102 2.3 x 102 1.5 x 102 1.6 x 102
The presence of these saltts in rain water situations (Ebocha and Okwuzi) than
from asbestos and concrete roofs could THBC with TCC being the lowest. Fungi
have caused the high turbidity and are spore formers whose spores resist
hardness in water from the gas flaring harsh environmental conditions and are
area and the community close to it. easily dispersed by winds (Schimidt,
The metallic ion concentrations 2004). Only few heterotrophic bacterial
were higher in the metallic roofing species produce spores (eg Bacillus
sheets corrugated iron and aluminum species) while coliforms do not produce
sheets. This observation tallies with the any spores. Prescott et al., (2005) and
reports of Obia and Obot (2010), Obia et Pelezar et al., (2005) agree that coliforms
al., (2011), Lien et al., (2007) and Tidblad will easily die off under increased
et al., (20000). The general consensus environmental temperature and low pH
among these researchers is that metals at the point where spores will still
dissolve under acidic conditions and the survive. Similarly, Nwaugo et al.,
rain water from these areas are acidic. It (2009b) working in Isihagu domestic
was therefore possible for the metallic water supply stated that TCC was also
roofing sheets to dissolve under acid the lowest in rain water from that area.
rain releasing more of these metallic There was a clear-cut seasonal
ions. This assertion could be said to be influence on the results obtained.
true as corrugated iron sheets had Higher values of physicochemical
higher Zn and Fe concentration which parameters were observed in the
are its components while aluminum occasional dry season and early rainy
roofs had higher Al ions too. The season rainwater than the mid rainy
presence of the other metallic ions in season and late rainy season rainwater
rain water form Ebocha could be samples. This could be attributed to
attributed to contaminants in working accumulation of particles in the air. The
materials, as much metallic work takes rains of the early rainy season had
place at Ebocha than Okwuzi. Guthrie washed the suspended or particulate
et al., (2002) and Natesan et al., (2008) materials down, making the air cleaner
stated that the higher the acidity of the in the rainy season. Kuruvillo (1999) and
solution, the higher its corrosive effects. Graedel (1994) had earlier stated similar
Dissolution (ionization) of metals was observations. Tawari and Abowei
higher in acidic water Thus, the higher (2012) stated that the dry season air is
conductivity observed in rain water dirty while the rainy season air is clean
from corrugated iron sheets followed by in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria and
aluminum could be due to such effects. the study area (Egbema) is also in the
This is buttressed as higher conductivity same Niger Delta area. This is easily
was observed at Ebocha with higher attributed to the cleansing by heavy
acidity than Okwuzi with low pH. downpours during the rainy season
Nwaugo et al., (2009b) working in period. Thus the occasional rains of the
Isihagu reported higher metallic ions in dry season and early rainy season rains
the mine effluent and pit water with contained more substances and were
higher acidic pH. equally more acidic than other samples.
Observations in the Microbiological analysis showed
microbiological analysis showed that slightly different trend. The
TFC were higher in both sampling microorganisms were more in the early
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rainy season rainwater than the dry suffered higher corrosive effect than
season occasional rains. The occasional those at Okwuzi indicating acid rain as
rains were light and only drizzled in the cause. This is because of the higher
most cases, hence were not strong acidity of Ebocha than Okwuzi rain
enough to wash down much microbial water samples.
progagules. As the intensity of the rains From the above explanations, gas
increased in the early rainy season, these flaring affected roofs of building
organisms were removed making the adversely, which in turn affected the
mid rainy seasons water the cleanest. rain water harvested from such roofs
This suggestion was buttressed further adversely too. It also revealed that the
as the counts slightly increased during least contaminated rain water was that
the late rains. This is due to the from aluminum roofs, in the mid raining
infrequent rains, which caused a light season though no harvested rainwater
accumulation of particles again in the was good enough for drinking
air. This observation suggests that purposes.
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