Grantee Research Project Results
Sustainable Water Development Program for Rural Nigeria
EPA Grant Number: SU833546Title: Sustainable Water Development Program for Rural Nigeria
Investigators: Shannon, Mark A.
Current Investigators: Shannon, Mark A. , Burns, Amanda , Barnes, Benjamin , Litchfield, Bruce , Ilo, Cajetan , Walsh, Daniel , Sawa, Joseph , Fierce, Laura , Somers, Maren
Institution: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: May 1, 2008 through April 30, 2010
Project Amount: $9,950
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2007) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Nanotechnology , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Description:
Rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa face the most acute water supply challenges in the world. Nigeria has considerable populations without basic access to safe drinking water, with over 50% of the country lacking coverage. The village of Adu Achi, Oji River Local Government Area, Enugu State currently seeks to develop a gravity-fed, distribution system employing groundwater from the Ajali sandstone aquifer. The village and surrounding areas consist of approximately 10,000 people currently relying upon contaminated surface water 3km from households, on average. The lengthy dry season from November to March, the inconsistent quality of nearby surface water, and the traditional worship of the local water bodies have led groundwater to be selected as the source of supply. The main barriers to developing sustainable water provisions for the region are the lack of electricity, the depth of the aquifer (estimated at over 500 feet), informal government structures within the community, and economic support.
Objective:
In order to provide adequate, consistent, and clean water supply to such a large, economically-challenged population involves development of a comprehensive sustainability program.
Approach:
The main elements will generally include: (1) Water Supply Development, (2) Community Health, (3) Community Management, and (4) Education. Sustainability is a major consideration in the design process and will be used as a major criterion for design decisions. Specific sustainability considerations are targeted at maximizing human health improvements, improving the environment, and passing on relevant concepts to the community and surrounding areas.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 28 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
infrastructure, water quality, watersheds, precipitation, rainwater catchment, health effects, human health, sensitive populations, pathogens, diarrheal disease, epidemiology, disinfection, geology, hydrology, ecosystem, rural energy supply, alternatives, renewable, biofuel, palm oil, decision making, community-based, cost-benefit, survey, public good, socio-economic, willingness-to-pay, engineering, cassava, PVC,Relevant Websites:
Phase 2 AbstractProgress and Final Reports:
P3 Phase II:
Sustainable Water Development Program for Rural Nigeria | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.