Water has been defined since elementary science as a tasteless, colorless, and odorless liquid. And thus, we expect water to have a certain degree of purity as it is consumed. Water can be obtained from various sources, which range from rainfall to wells, boreholes, springs, rivers, etc.
Water makes up about 70% of the earth’s surface and about 60% of the human body. This indicates that water is an essential part of human existence, either as an individual or as it relates to the environment. I believe most of us were exposed to the chemical formula of water as H2O and were told water could exist in the three states of matter: gas, liquid, and solid.
Several years ago, while I was in elementary school, I had the opportunity to go on an excursion to a water dam here in Ilorin, Kwara State, and we were exposed to different stages of water purification such as coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, etc. It was exciting to see water in different segments aerated by heavy pipes and removing unwanted particles.
The Ecologix Environmental Systems defines the purification of water as the process of removing undesired chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and gases from contaminated water so as to produce water fit for consumption. ECOLOGIC
Thus, the above processes aim to make available clean water fit for consumption, as earlier defined in the elementary class.
I will be taking us through different water sources here in Nigeria. Enjoy the ride.
RAINFALL
This is the freest water source, where the clouds pour water down to the earth as rainfall. I remember experiencing ice falling from the sky some years ago. It was a beautiful and rare experience for me. Not too long ago, I had the occasion to bathe with rainwater, which I collected in buckets since there was a power outage and we were unable to pump water through the pumping machine. Often times, children are seen playing in the rain; it is usually a fun time, even though there is a risk of catching a cold.
WATER BODIES such as rivers, streams, dams, etc.
Some parts of Nigeria still fetch water from rivers and streams. This is more common in villages and rural areas. The water source is, however, not void of contamination. My village, for example, is at the water's edge. Children are often seen swimming at the river shore, while some people can be seen washing at a distance. I had a terrible experience about two decades ago where I saw feces float past me while I played in the river. That can be disgusting! Well, the terrible side is that water for domestic consumption is usually fetched from the same water body by going a little farther inside the river, where it is believed to be less contaminated. Water bodies are expected to sediment particles (especially the heavy ones) after settlement; however, this does not protect the surface of the water from contamination. I should state at this point that it is unhealthy to situate sewage systems (from residential homes and organizations) close to water bodies. The soakaways can easily contaminate any nearby water body. During floods and water contamination (such as from industries), consumers are prone to diseases that relate to the consumption of such waters.
PIPE-BORNE WATER
I grew up in a time when pipes went through homes to supply water to residents. Most times, we had dedicated days when we expected water to be supplied by the government through taps in the pipes. Most of the pipes were made from metal, which had the disadvantage of rusting over time and contaminating the water supplied. The metallic pipes are durable as opposed to the plastic pipes, which can be easily broken when the roads are compromised. I have seen many of the pipes along streets compromised and gushing out water whenever water flows through them. I remember bills being brought to the house for the water supply. For now, the era of providing water through pipes to residential houses is gradually being phased out as most houses have found alternative water supplies (to be discussed below).
MOST HOMES HAVE STORAGE TANKS FOR WATER
WELLS and BOREHOLES
A TYPICAL WELL SOURCE OF WATER TO A HOME
BOREHOLE WATER SUPPLY ALREADY DRILLED
This has become popular in homes and organizations. The wells are dug to certain levels where the water bed is reached, purified by potash, for example, and fetched for consumption. Alternatively, borehole drilling involves drilling holes to access water deep into the ground (usually cleaner than the water from the well). Drilling boreholes is more expensive than digging a well. Boreholes can cost as much as N500,000 ($580), while wells can be dug for about N150, 000 ($175). Both methods require electricity for the water to be pumped, which is usually stored in overhead tanks. There are boreholes that require pumping by hand (we had similar ones on campuses and hostels). The digging of wells does not end there; a pumping machine is often purchased, as are overhead tanks for the storage of water. A 20,000-liter water tank we bought late last year for N80,000 ($107) One of the oversights of such stored water is that the tanks are not washed regularly and may harbor biological and chemical contaminants. In my house, we have a 1 HP (horsepower) pumping machine attached to the well, which, when full, can last the nuclear family for a week. It is usually gladdening to have water flowing in every part of the house. Not all wells have water, especially during the dry season, and a few may be blocked when they're not serving the purpose for which they were dug.
ABANDONED WELL NOT SERVING ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE
PURE and BOTTLED WATER
A BOTTLED WATER
Some water factories do sell quantified water in satchels or bottles. Here in Nigeria, we refer to satchel water as pure water; however, most are not pure unless for a few. Remember we said water is tasteless and odorless? Some alleged pure water in satchels can be seen to have sediment floating inside, while others have unfavorable tastes. Vendors are mostly concerned about selling their produce and do not mind compromising standards to the detriment of consumers. One of the ways the government checks the standard of these waters is through quality assurance checks. Generally, bottled water is preferred. A satchel of pure water costs N20 in most parts of the country. The least expensive price for a bag of pure water directly from the manufacturer is N250 ($0.3), which has 20 satchels inside, and the roadside sellers would sell it to you for N300 ($0.35) per bag. For me, I buy two bags of pure water for consumption directly from manufacturers whenever I need them and drive through the routes. A bottle of water goes for a minimum of N100 ($0.12) and can be higher at event centers, restaurants, or club houses. A pack of bottled water usually costs N700 ($0.82) or more and contains 12 bottles.
A BAG OF PURE WATER CONTAINING 20 PIECES
A SATCHEL OF PURE WATER
The provision of clean water should not be negotiable; however, we hardly have access to clean water for the reasons stated above.
Thank you for reading. I would love to have your comments and contributions.
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