WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF HARVESTED RAINWATER IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE, NIGERIA.
Faculty
Department
Year of Publication
upload
Publication Type
Abstract
This study assessed the water quality of harvested rainfall in different parts of Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, due to increasing dependence on rainwater as an alternative domestic water source amid erratic municipal supply. The research aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of harvested rainwater from three
communities—Ekosodin, BDPA, and Oluku—comparing direct rainfall and rooftop catchment sources. It further aimed to determine their Water Quality Index (WQI) using the Arithmetic weightage index model. Rainwater samples were systematically collected from pre-selected rooftops with different materials (corrugated iron, aluminum, and asbestos) and direct rainfall collectors. Standard laboratory methods were used for analyzing physicochemical parameters—pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), hardness, salinity, bicarbonate, chloride, sulfate, nitrate, heavy metals (Fe, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, V), and microbiological indicators. The results indicated that directly collected rainwater in all locations had excellent quality with pH (6.6–6.8), low EC (70–80 µS/cm), low TDS (41 45 mg/L), and negligible microbial contamination (0 CFU/mL). These samples had WQI values between 20 and 23, classifying them as “excellent” and safe for drinking and domestic use after minimal treatment such as filtration or boiling. However, rooftop-harvested rainwater showed slightly elevated concentrations of Fe (0.557 mg/L), Pb (0.026 mg/L), and Cd (0.01 mg/L).
communities—Ekosodin, BDPA, and Oluku—comparing direct rainfall and rooftop catchment sources. It further aimed to determine their Water Quality Index (WQI) using the Arithmetic weightage index model. Rainwater samples were systematically collected from pre-selected rooftops with different materials (corrugated iron, aluminum, and asbestos) and direct rainfall collectors. Standard laboratory methods were used for analyzing physicochemical parameters—pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), hardness, salinity, bicarbonate, chloride, sulfate, nitrate, heavy metals (Fe, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, V), and microbiological indicators. The results indicated that directly collected rainwater in all locations had excellent quality with pH (6.6–6.8), low EC (70–80 µS/cm), low TDS (41 45 mg/L), and negligible microbial contamination (0 CFU/mL). These samples had WQI values between 20 and 23, classifying them as “excellent” and safe for drinking and domestic use after minimal treatment such as filtration or boiling. However, rooftop-harvested rainwater showed slightly elevated concentrations of Fe (0.557 mg/L), Pb (0.026 mg/L), and Cd (0.01 mg/L).
Supervisor(s)
co-supervisor