Assessment of Wastewater Quality Status for Urban Farming in Katsina
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Abstract
The study assesses the quality of domestic wastewater discharged and used for irrigation farming along River Ginzo in the Metropolis with the aim of determining its suitability for cultivating crops along the river in the area. Three sampling sites, Kofar Marusa, Kofar Durbi and Kofar Sauri were selected from the study area, and two sampling points each from the three sample sites were chosen using the purposive sampling technique. Six sampling points were obtained in total and two sets of samples were collected, first in the peak of dry season April, 2019 and the second in the peak of wet season in August, 2019, giving a total of twelve (12) samples. The results indicated that all the parameters analyzed fall within the FAO (2006) recommended standard values for irrigation water except that of dry season period which has the highest mean average concentration of psycho-chemicals (Electrical conductivity) and the heavy metals (Cd, Cu and Ni) which are higher in the dry season than in the wet season period. This was found as a result of accumulation of exhaust carbon from automobiles, different land form and uses, high evaporation and human activities zango (2010). The water is suitable for irrigation as confirmed by the accepted hypothesis but the salinity which influences the plants osmotic activities which subsequently reduce absorption of water and nutrients by plants need to be addressed. Focus group discussions among farmers indicated that the water has both positive and negative implications and that the water could be risky but due to the availability of the wastewater and the nutritional values in it, they used it for cultivating crops. However, there is need for further investigation and monitoring of the wastewater and the farming activity in the area as well as using enlightenment campaigns on the risk of the pollutions as well as correctional measures and the use of resistance variety of crops.
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