Effects of Gas Flaring on Drinking Water Quality in Ibeno and Esit Eket Local Government Areas, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the effect of gas flaring on drinking water quality in Ibeno and Esit Eket local government areas. The physicochemical and bacteriological quality of drinking water in 20 randomly sampled communities in the study area was investigated and water temperature was tested in-situ at the sampling locations. Other physicochemical parameters in the samples collected from drinking water sources at different sampling locations in the study area were analyzed in the laboratory. Physical,chemical and microbial properties were tested to measure water quality from 20 geographically referenced points of drinking water sources were also analyzed. Pearson Product Moment, Analysis of Variance, chi-square and simple percentage statistical tools were adopted. Dry and wet seasons indicated significance difference in the water quality of the study area using the approved standards. Findings suggested that gas flare pollutants accounted for high concentration of water pollutants resulting in water and other environmental pollution, increased in environmental temperature mostly in area with close proximity to the flare sites. Also, wind pressure from Atlantic Ocean aided spatial dispersion of air pollutants which accounts for acid rain in the study area. The followings recommendations were; regular monitoring of drinking water sources quality within the study area; routine medical examination for residents of the study area mostly for elderly, women and children for contaminated water and related sickness and diseases. Petroleum Industry Act should be strictly complied with and of enders should be punished according to the law. The environmental and socio–economic problems occasioned by gas flaring should be mitigated through adopting sustainable approaches.