Solar Powered Water Purification System in Southeast Nigeria

This study critically assessed the effectiveness and sustainability of solar powered Water Purification Systems in some selected communities of Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria. The study is inspired by the continuing water shortage problem, poor water quality conditions and poor electrical power supply in various communities in the region. Specifically, water quality before and after treatment using the solar powered water purification systems was analysed technically to determine the impact of the water purification systems on water quality and also to evaluate the socio economic and environmental factors that would influence the adoption and sustainability of the solar powered water purification systems. A quantitative cross sectional design was used which involved water quality analysis in the laboratory and survey methods in the household. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 150 households and 45 water samples were analysed for physicochemical and microbiological properties. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, paired sample t tests and multiple regression analysis at 0.05 level of significance. Results showed that water quality improved drastically after its purification by solar method in respect of turbidity, TDS, faecal coliform and the values reduced from 14.75 NTU to 2.16 NTU, 628.40 mg/L to 182.74 mg/L and 137.53 CFU/100 ml to 3.28 CFU/100 ml respectively (p<0.05). In addition, household income (β = 0.381), awareness (β = 0.413) and technical support (β = 0.289) significantly increased system sustainability, while maintenance cost (β = −0.265) negatively impacted system adoption. The study findings showed that solar powered water purification systems are a feasible and sustainable solution to enhance access to potable water in the catchment area of Southeast Nigeria.

Keywords: Solar powered water purification, potable water, renewable energy, Southeast Nigeria.