A Nigerian water study reveals alarming chemical and bacterial contamination, with infants at highest risk, researchers warn
A Nigerian water study conducted by Dr Otitoju Beulah of the African Centre of Excellence for Water and Environmental Research at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, has raised renewed concerns over the quality of drinking water available to households across the country.
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Dr Beulah disclosed the findings in a statement made available on Monday.
Her research, which involved sampling major and minor waterbodies across Osun, Oyo and Lagos states, identified dangerously high concentrations of industrial pollutants and pharmaceutical residues in both surface and groundwater sources.
According to the study, contamination levels intensified during the rainy season, heightening public health risks.
Dr Beulah reported that the pollutants were detected in rivers, streams, wells, boreholes, tap water and even packaged drinking water.
She warned that infants and toddlers faced the greatest vulnerability, with a significantly higher risk of non-carcinogenic effects due to their lower body weight and relatively high water intake.
Citing her recent publications in international journals, she explained that the research examined dihydroxybenzenes, including catechol and hydroquinone, chemicals commonly associated with industrial effluents and pharmaceutical waste.
She described the findings as “alarming”, noting that these compounds posed a threat not only to human health but also to aquatic ecosystems, with potentially destructive ripple effects on food and livelihoods.
Beyond chemical pollutants, the study also revealed widespread bacterial contamination linked to Nigeria’s inadequate waste management systems.
Dr Beulah attributed the crisis to rapid urbanisation, weak regulatory enforcement and limited public awareness about proper waste disposal practices.
She noted that poor oversight allowed harmful effluents to infiltrate water sources relied upon for drinking and cooking.
The researcher advocated affordable household water-treatment options, including agricultural-waste filters, modified sand filters and solar disinfection units.
Early trials, she said, had shown promising reductions in contamination levels and increased adoption of safer water practices among communities.
However, she stressed that Nigeria urgently needed clearer regulatory guidelines on emerging contaminants such as catechol, alongside stronger enforcement of industrial discharge laws.
Fragmented monitoring systems and weak reporting structures, she argued, continued to undermine efforts to protect water quality.
Dr Beulah called for collective, immediate action, describing access to clean water as a matter of survival rather than convenience.
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“Safe water cannot wait. While governments work on long-term solutions, communities must be given tools to protect themselves now,” she said.
