Water
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, April 12, 2018 (NAN) Mr Chukwudi Nwufo, Deputy Director, Engineering Services, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, has called on the citizens to use fibre tanks, instead of the plastic “geepee’’ tanks, for their water storage.
Nwufo made the call in Abuja on Thursday at an inter-ministerial technical dialogue on sanitation, organised by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
He said the use of “geepee’’ plastic tanks was harmful, adding that it was the leading cause of water pollution and sedimentation.
He noted that the use of fibre tanks was a potent way to maintain water quality because when light entered the plastic tanks, it might spur the growth of algae, thereby affecting the stored water.
“We are calling on Nigerians to stop using ‘geepee’ tanks to store water; it has been recognised that the tanks affect the quality of water stored in them.
“We want Nigerians to start using fibre tanks, these tanks will not allow any iota of light to enter and engender the formation of algae; as we all know, algae is formed when photosynthesis occurs.
“This causes sedimentation, which affects the water that has been stored but the fibre tanks maintain the water quality to the point of consumption.’’
The deputy director said the ministry was embarking on a public awareness campaign on the use of fibre tanks, citing the installation of fibre tanks at the newly constructed Federal Secretariat in Gombe as part of the campaign.
Besides, Nwufo underscored the need for Nigerians to imbibe the practice of constructing central sewage systems and reduce the use of soak-away.
He said that there could be pollution of the environment whenever a leak occurred in the soak-away.
Mr Emmanuel Awe, Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation, said that the meeting was an avenue to collaborate on how to scale up sanitation and hygiene activities in the country.
He emphasised the need for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to have budget provisions for improvement in the nation’s sanitation and hygiene.
Awe expressed the hope that this would go a long way to boost hygiene practices and reduce the disease burden in the society.
He said that poor hygiene had been known to be the leading cause of preventable illness, especially among under-five children.
He said that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources was planning to launch a National Campaign on Ending Open Defecation and create a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Fund. (NAN)
TAK/MOL/OOK
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe