A Don, Prof. Anthony Ugbenyen, has challenged
Nigerians to always subject domestic water to treatment before use to prevent waterborne diseases.
He made the call while delivering the 16th Inaugural Lecture at the Edo State University, Uzairue, on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture has “Biopolymers as Eco-friendly Alternative in Water/Wastewater Purification: A Public Health Concern” as its theme.
Ugbenyen, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry, said “water is an important natural resources for the survival of living organisms, production of food and for other purposes.”
He added that water is prone to different contamination and pollution that makes it difficult for use without treatment.
“There is need to educate Nigerians on water treatment and disinfection process before use.
“Subjecting water to treatment and disinfection will reduce the risk of heavy metal toxicities and waterborne diseases.”
Ugbenyen added that water related diseases are common in the country and spread by pathogenic micro-organisms that transmit bacteria or viral infections into rivers, wells and rain water.
He explained that “waters obtained from boreholes and rivers are considered unsafe for domestic consumption without proper treatment and disinfection in spite of good physicochemical properties.
“The unsafe nature of such water is due to the level of heavy metals in it, which is higher than the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended limits.”
He urged government to set up an evaluation body to see to the periodic check of natural water bodies, as well as prevent excessive human anthropogenic activities that may result to contamination of the water.
He added that “there is need for sensitisation on proper waste management and the consequence of anthropogenic activities that may result to water contamination.”
Earlier, the acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Dawood Egbefo, said the lecture is to
encourage young professors to share knowledge and promote academic excellence.(NAN
