GREY WATER AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF WATER IN LOKOJA TOWN, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA.

Abenu, A.*, Dasin, M.S., Audu, E.B. and Iwugo, K.O.

Grey water utilization, a means of water conservation which also offer an alternative water source is the focus of this study. There is increasing advocacy for water conservation in places with water deficit as well as those with abundant fresh water in view of diminishing global water resources. With rising urbanization, population growth and seasonality of rainfall, especially in Nigeria, strain is placed on the available freshwater. This study examined the level of laundry, bath and kitchen water re-use in households; as well as their degree of usage for non-potable applications. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed for the household survey in Lokoja town, where 524 respondents in both planned and unplanned neighbourhoods were interviewed using structured interview schedule. First, nine neighbourhoods were selected from the twenty-two neighbourhoods thereafter, individual households were selected. Amongst laundry water, bath water and kitchen water, the most substantial grey water which was utilized in Lokoja town was laundry water in all the sampled neighbourhoods. The most common non-potable application was toilet flushing, while grey water re-use for other non-potable applications like car or motor cycle washing, road or street wetting, and irrigation of garden was not widespread. To promote greater adoption of grey water reuse, water education which addresses the issue of water reuse advantages is needed, this can be achieved through public enlightenment using both formal and informal settings.

Key words: Grey water, Population growth, Non-potable application, Urbanization, Water conservation, Water resources.