Socio-economic influence of hydrogeology in regions adjoining coal bearing formation: Water policy in Anambra Basin

Abstract

The Coal Province lies within the central portion of Anambra Basin and along the axis of regional water resources catchment of Southeastern Nigeria. Although this area includes a prolific aquifer, the high cost of development and treatment of the groundwater degraded by AMD has created water scarcity problems against water policy initiatives. Social and economic impacts were investigated, even as policy measures for rehabilitation purposes through water resource management were highlighted. Several geoscientific methods were integrated for the investigations. Mean resistivity up to 30 Ω-m relatively at shallow depths indicated aquitards of Enugu/Mamu Formations, whereas the aquifer reflected resistivity ≤1,000 Ω-m at depths of ≥180 m across Ajali Sandstone. Alkaline-rich seepage flushed Fe-rich AMD at aquifer-aquitards interfaces adjoining the river catchment area. The AMD-induced oxidation process produced noxious Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3-SO4-Cl facie. These results were correlated with policy related questionnaires. Plans for water security were proposed, mainly to channel groundwater directly from the regional aquifer, or the chemically degraded seeped water from the fluvial system, into constructor water reservoir (treatment) columns prior to distribution to the town-water supply. Such water resource development is cost effective; and with management policies regulated by relevant decision-making agencies, sustainable supply is assured.

Valuasi nilai ekonomi daerah aliran sungai (DAS) Ciliwung dengan contingent valuation method

“…Manfaat air akan sulit didapatkan apabila kualitasnya tercemar sekalipun pasokan air tersedia dalam jumlah yang besar. Penelitian Ukpai et al (2021) menemukan bahwa salah satu krisis hidrologi di Nigeria terjadi akibat eksploitasi batu bara di sekitar aliran Sungai Anambra.…”

Water policy reform in the Nigeria water governance system: assessment of water resources management based on OECD Principles on Water Governance

“…The geology of Nigeria, located in West Africa (Figure 2) sandwiches earth materials that vary from bulk/industrial minerals to economic-laden deposits like fossil fuels, metallic ores, and water resources. Exploitation of these minerals have created environmental risks greater than the economic gains earlier accrued (Ukpai et al, 2021), with most of the risks exposed through the water supply. Thus, as the water supply is the major source of food for all biomes, the humans at the peak of food chains are the end receptor of the risk effects.…”

“…Note: C i /SAL i is approximated to 1 decimal place. The laboratory results or C i was sourced from Ukpai et al (2021).…”

“…Currently, natural resources in Nigeria are owned by the government and the exploitations are regulated by its relevant agencies (Ukpai et al, 2021), but that of water resources was deregulated with the aim of enhancing access to water supply as a human right: a claim that tends to meet water needs of the increasing population. The deregulation should have been equipped with a water policy that ensures sound water management regulatory frameworks are effectively implemented and enforced for public interest [Principle 7], but it seems to be problematic, especially as water managers encompassing experts are no longer consulted before water development.…”

“…One of such challenges in the water management nowadays is how to allocate water adequately among competing uses, largely in [hydropower] energy production and eflow (Kuriqi et al, 2019a), which constitute a complex interaction and at times affect the ecosystem adversely (Kuriqi et al, 2019b). For this reason, various relevant decision-making agencies regulate the management policies to guarantee sustainable water supply (Ukpai et al, 2021). Thus, water resources management is characterized by the involvement of multiple stakeholders with competing interests and objectives (Smith & Clausen, 2015).…”