30 January 2017, Lagos – A professor at the Department of Applied Geology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Yinusa Asiwaju-Bello, has said it will take a long time for polluted groundwater to be safe enough for consumption.
He said polluted groundwater in a place like Ogoniland in Rivers State would take a long time before it could be good for human consumption.
Asiwaju-Bello said it was better to prevent contamination of groundwater than to clean it up after being polluted.
He said, “In spite of the ongoing attempt to clean up Ogoniland by the Federal Government, the devastation to the quality of the environment and groundwater will take two generations to be overturned.
“No matter the technology applied, our generation and the one immediately behind us will not see a clean groundwater in Ogoniland.
“It is not just enough for man to attempt to clean up groundwater when it is already polluted, rather, man should work hard to ensure prevention of contamination of this vulnerable resource.”
The don said to prevent contamination of groundwater of the type ravaging Ogoniland and some other part of the country, some human activities influencing the environment should be monitored and controlled.
According to him, some human activities, such as application of sludge and wastewater, pesticides and herbicides, disposal of solid refuse and use of septic system, among others, can put a lot of pressure on groundwater and contaminate it.
Stressing the need for public education on the prevention of groundwater contamination, the geologist recommended that hazardous cleaning activities should be stopped or minimised.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, FUTA, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, called on Nigerians to adhere to preventive measures in avoiding water contamination, “because water is life.”
- Punch