COMPLETE SCHOOL PROJECT TOPICS & MATERIALS :
CHAPTERS: Chapter 1-5
|
DOC FORMAT: MS WORD/PDF
|
PRICE: ₦5,000
SUSTAINABLE WATER SOLUTIONS FOR URBAN NIGERIAN HOMES: DESIGNING AND EVALUATING INTEGRATED RAINWATER HARVESTING AND GREYWATER RECYCLING SYSTEMS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Water is a fundamental resource for human survival, economic development, and environmental sustainability. Despite this, numerous regions globally, particularly in developing nations, struggle with reliable access to clean and sufficient water. Nigeria exemplifies this paradox, as it possesses abundant rainfall in many regions and substantial surface and groundwater reserves, yet contends with a worsening water crisis due to inadequate infrastructure, rapid urbanization, pollution, and inefficient water supply management (Olanrewaju et al., 2025).
Urban centers in Nigeria, including major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, and Benin City, face acute water scarcity driven by population growth, deteriorating infrastructure, and excessive reliance on groundwater sources, particularly boreholes. Current estimates indicate that approximately 179 million Nigerians lack access to safely managed drinking water, with only 67% of the population having basic drinking water services (Nigerian Institute of Water Engineers [NIWE], 2024; UNICEF, 2021 WASH NORM Survey). Safely managed drinking water coverage remains critically low, often below 30%, while piped water access has declined sharply from 36% in 1990 to just 11% in recent years (World Bank, 2022; Fadare, 2019). Public water utilities in urban areas frequently fail to meet demand, compelling households to depend on costly and often unregulated alternatives such as private boreholes, water vendors, and sachet water. This issue is particularly severe in Lagos, where daily water demand vastly exceeds supply capacity, fostering reliance on unsustainable sources (Veriv Africa, 2024).
The disparity between Nigeria’s water abundance and scarcity arises from uneven distribution, contamination of water sources, and infrastructural deficiencies. Rapid urbanization exacerbates pressure on existing systems, leading to groundwater depletion, pollution from improper waste disposal, and heightened vulnerability to waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid (Nigeria Health Watch, 2025). These challenges pose significant threats to public health, economic productivity, and long-term environmental sustainability.
In response, decentralized water management strategies have gained prominence both globally and locally. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) involves collecting and storing rainwater from rooftops and other surfaces for domestic use, while greywater recycling (GWR) treats and repurposes wastewater from activities like laundry, bathing, and dishwashing for non-potable applications such as irrigation, toilet flushing, and landscaping. Both methods reduce dependence on freshwater sources, minimize wastewater discharge, and enhance water efficiency (Lade & Oloke, 2015; Rawlings et al., 2022).
Southern Nigeria, including Edo State where Benin City is situated, experiences substantial annual rainfall (often exceeding 1,500–2,000 mm), presenting significant potential for RWH. Research in cities such as Ibadan and Benin City demonstrates that RWH systems can achieve considerable water savings, with rooftop installations in Edo State proving particularly viable for domestic supply, especially in regions with low groundwater tables like Ekpoma (Agbonaye & Eboi, 2024; Tenebe et al., 2020). Similarly, GWR systems yield consistent reductions, with studies in Lagos indicating 20–30% annual water savings when integrated with complementary measures (RSIS International, 2025). Despite these advantages, adoption remains limited due to barriers such as high initial costs, insufficient awareness, maintenance challenges, and inadequate policy support (Ilemobade et al., 2013). Integrating RWH and GWR in residential buildings offers a viable solution to enhance water sustainability, particularly in urban Nigeria, where household-level interventions can alleviate strain on centralized systems (Olanrewaju & Ilemobade, various works).
This study examines the design and analysis of an integrated rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling system tailored for residential buildings to advance water sustainability in urban Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Urban Nigerian households experience persistent water shortages, inconsistent public supply infrastructure, and elevated costs linked to alternative water sources. In Benin City and comparable urban environments, residents frequently depend on boreholes which exhibit seasonal yield fluctuations and contamination risks (UNICEF Nigeria, 2024). The discharge of untreated greywater exacerbates environmental degradation, while escalating population growth intensifies potable water demand.
Conventional centralized water distribution systems demonstrate insufficient coverage and operational inefficiencies. Despite documented efficacy in studies from Lagos, Ibadan, and Edo State, sustainable alternatives such as integrated rainwater harvesting (RWH) and greywater recycling (GWR) remain underutilized in residential contexts (Lade & Oloke, 2015; RSIS International, 2025). This implementation gap perpetuates groundwater over-extraction, public health hazards from unsafe water, and foregone water conservation opportunities.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
This study aims to develop and evaluate an integrated RWH and GWR system for residential buildings to improve urban water sustainability in Nigeria. Specific objectives include:
- Examining contemporary water supply challenges and consumption patterns in Nigerian urban residences.
- Quantifying the potential of RWH and GWR as supplementary water sources.
- Designing an integrated system adaptable to residential structures, accounting for climatic, architectural, and socioeconomic variables.
1.4 Research Questions
1. What principal water supply constraints affect urban residential buildings in Nigeria?
2. What volumetric capacity exists for rooftop rainwater harvesting in Benin City’s residential structures?
3. What quantities of household greywater are generated, and what treatment methodologies enable effective reuse?
1.5 Significance of the Study
This research advances sustainable water management through decentralized residential solutions. It generates empirical data and design templates for homeowners, construction professionals, and policymakers. By optimizing water efficiency, the study contributes to public health enhancement, pollution reduction, and achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The proposed model reduces dependence on unsustainable sources while improving climate resilience (UNICEF & WHO, 2025 JMP Report).
1.6 Scope of the Study
The investigation concentrates on Nigerian urban residences, particularly Benin City’s household typologies. It encompasses system design, performance evaluation using regional rainfall data, greywater composition analysis, and basic treatment techniques. Economic and environmental appraisals are incorporated, while municipal-scale systems and industrial applications are excluded.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
Methodological constraints include reliance on secondary climatic/hydrological data with possible locational variances. Although long-term monitoring exceeds this study’s purview, the recommendations outline pathways for future implementation tracking.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Rainwater Harvesting (RWH): The systematic capture, storage, and utilization of precipitation from impermeable surfaces.
Greywater: Domestic wastewater excluding fecal contamination (e.g., bathing, laundry, dishwashing effluents).
Greywater Recycling (GWR): The purification and repurposing of greywater for non-potable applications.
Water Sustainability: The equitable and efficient stewardship of water resources to satisfy present requirements without jeopardizing future accessibility.
Integrated System: A coordinated RWH and GWR configuration optimizing residential water reuse.