Water pollution: Effects on health and environment of Dala LGA, Nigeria

Water pollution is an international phenomenon and one of the fundamental issues in many developing nations including Africa. Many areas of groundwater and other sources of water are contaminated with heavy metals, chronic organic pollution, and waste materials that have a destructive effect on public health and the environment. The paper investigates into the problem of water pollution in Dala, under the Local Government of Kano State, Nigeria with the aim to discover the sources of water pollution, the effects of water pollution on public health and environment, and to make recommendations for the same. The study is based on a primary survey conducted with citizens of the area and also on secondary study of reports and similar research. The study revealed that there are very high incidences of poor waste disposal practices resulting ultimately in pollution of the water. The study highlights that the pollution in turn impacts the citizen's environment negatively. Water pollution is the major environmental impact affecting the study area and recommendations have been made in terms of better sanitary practices, heightened awareness of the public, adequate investment in waste control and management, effective implementation of judicial measures and by following the monthly environmental sanitation scheme. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the National Conference on Functional Materials: Emerging Technologies and Applications in Materials Science.