Role of environmental education in water pollution prevention and conservation in Nigeria

It is impossible to overestimate the role that water plays in maintaining life. Rivers, lakes, and other surface water resources provide a significant percentage of the water needed for domestic, agricultural, and industrial operations. Potable water is frequently tasteless, colourless, and odourless, which makes it safe and suitable for human consumption, according to Oluwande (2011). Unfortunately, the quality of our water resources is declining because of widespread neglect and a lack of suitable infrastructure for protection and treatment. Water pollution has been a major environmental problem in Nigeria, particularly in some states in southwest Nigeria, like Lagos and Oyo, with a high population and volume of waste generation and dumping. Lagos, in particular, is home to a large population and many industrial activities, which contribute to the contamination of water sources. Water pollution in Nigeria is mainly caused by inadequate sewage systems, poor waste management practices, and industrial activities that discharge untreated waste into water bodies. The consequences of this pollution called for concern, as the affected water sources are used for domestic purposes such as drinking, fishing, and irrigation, leading to health problems and economic losses for the nation.

According to Galadima et al. (2011), pollution is the most important problem with Nigeria's local communities' access to water sources. Numerous chemical substances and components in groundwater and surface water can contribute to water pollution. The origins of these compounds are associated with either anthropogenic (human) activities or natural processes. Two significant natural processes add chemicals to water: weathering and soil leaching. In addition, accessible pollutants that damage the soil quality may be absorbed by rainwater seeping into the soil, similar to how rainwater runoff could introduce contaminants to surface waters (Lerh et al. 2011). The main human activities that cause water pollution, according to a WHO report from 2010 (WHO 2010), include a septic tank and cesspool leaks, unintentional spills of hazardous materials, waste stockpiles and piles, mining activities, agricultural activities, polluted surface water infiltration, and landfills. High nitrate, chloride, sulphate, hardness, dissolved solids, detergents, and bacteria are likely present in effluent-contaminated water supplies. Recycling sewage effluent through the local water supply system is to blame for most of the health problems brought on by this type of pollution. Consuming untreated sewage-polluted water poses the most significant risk of epidemics of water-borne illnesses like typhoid, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, and dysentery (WHO 2014).

Mokitlane (2018) reported some of the activities that cause water pollution to include mine pumping to surface water, soil leaching, and mining waste outpouring. Sanitary landfills are disposal landfills or dumps that are covered with soil daily. In many cases, they threaten groundwater quality (Avery 2011). Poor quality and insufficiently available water continue to threaten human health severely. Of the people who live in rural areas, 70% acquire their water from dangerous sources like dams, open wells, rivers, and streams. Millions of people lack access to this fundamental requirement globally, and as a result, they perish from water-borne illnesses and dehydration. The impact of contaminated water is disproportionately felt in underdeveloped countries due to a lack of infrastructure to address sewage and other water sanitation issues. The UN estimates that 95% of untreated urban sewage from developing nations is dumped into the same lakes and rivers that those countries use. Policymakers and communities worldwide, especially those in developing nations, have become increasingly interested in the deterioration of water quality in recent years. Water pollution is now primarily a result of environmental protection negligence. The importance of clean water to both people and the environment cannot be overemphasized.

A high infant mortality rate characterizes Nigeria due to a daily battle for access to water, improper sewage handling, and inadequate sanitation. As a result, over 500,000 people die yearly from malaria, river blindness or onchocerciasis, cholera, giardiasis, amoebiasis, dracunculiasis, and other water contamination-related diseases (Tulchinsky & Varavikova 2014). However, depending on the nature of the disease, the morbidity and mortality rate of water-related diseases can be drastically reduced by providing safe drinking water and adequate sanitation (WHO 2011). Water-borne diseases are diseases that are spread through water containing human and animal faeces and urine, either by drinking or eating food that has been washed with it. They include whipworm, roundworm, typhoid fever, diarrhoea, poliomyelitis, and cholera (Tulchinsky & Varavikova 2014). Poor personal hygiene and coming into contact with contaminated water can transmit these. Trachoma can cause blindness later in life, and skin conditions, including scabies, typhus, and lice, are additional effects of consuming contaminated or dirty water.

A certain quantity of nitrates in water may come from natural sources. However, the excess is more likely due to sewage discharges, farm effluents, or the application of nitrogenous fertilizers on the land. Fluoride concentrations exceeding 1.5 mg/L cause dental fluorosis, while those below 0.5 mg/L increase the risk of dental caries. Nitrates in drinking water can cause methemoglobinemia in newborns (EPA Report 2016). They are seriously affecting both the nation's economy and human health. Therefore, environmental education (EE) is touted as a key remedy for these urgent issues, arming the public with knowledge, values, and skills that support environmental protection and conservation (Peter 2013, p. 57). EE aims to increase awareness of the importance of water as a finite resource and the need to use water efficiently to reduce waste and pollution. This is especially important in Nigeria, where water resources are under pressure due to rapid population growth, urbanization, and climate change (Ayeni 2017). In Nigeria, several initiatives have been aimed at promoting EE and water conservation. For example, the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI) has developed a water resource management curriculum for primary and secondary schools, aiming to increase awareness of the importance of water resources and promote sustainable water use (Sobowale et al. 2015). In addition, NGOs such as WaterAid Nigeria and the Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) have implemented community-based programmes to increase awareness of the importance of clean water and promote water conservation practices (NEWSAN 2020).

Despite the potential benefits of EE for water pollution prevention and conservation, several barriers exist in its implementation in Nigeria. One of the main challenges is the lack of resources and funding for EE programmes. Many schools and communities lack the materials and equipment to teach EE effectively.

Another challenge is the lack of awareness and understanding of the importance of water conservation among the general public. Many people in Nigeria are unaware of the impact of their water use on the environment and the need for sustainable water management practices (Ayeni 2017). In addition, cultural and religious beliefs can sometimes conflict with EE messages, making it difficult to change attitudes and behaviour towards water use and conservation (Charles & Daniel 2011). For healthy living, water pollution prevention and conservation are important. Several studies, like Iwasaki (2022), have suggested that EE could play a significant role in creating awareness concerning the effects of water pollution and could encourage water pollution prevention and conservation. Water pollution is a significant environmental issue in Nigeria, with many water bodies contaminated by industrial, agricultural, and domestic waste. Despite the numerous studies on water pollution in Nigeria, there are still research gaps that need to be addressed. From the literature, the relationship between EE and water pollution prevention and conservation in Nigeria remains an open question. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the role of EE in water pollution prevention and conservation in Nigeria.

The specific objectives of this study are to

• 1.

  identify the current level of awareness of water pollution prevention and conservation and

• 2.

  investigate the impact of education level on individual behaviour change towards water pollution prevention and conservation.

The quantitative research method was used in this study to determine the role of EE in water pollution prevention and conservation.

Teenagers and adults in all the states in the southwest zone of Nigeria constitute the population for this state. A simple random sampling method was used to select the sample from the entire population. A total of 1,500 respondents were initially targeted. Ultimately 768 responses were received, with 381 responses from male participants and 387 responses from female participants. The distribution of the responses was 230 from Oyo, 167 from Lagos, 140 from Osun, 110 from Ondo, 83 from Ekiti, and 59 from Ogun.

The instrument used for data collection was the Awareness and Attitude Towards Water Pollution Prevention and Conservation Questionnaire (AAWPPCQ). A four-point Likert scale, strongly agree, agree, disagree, and strongly disagree, was used. The survey was conducted in 2022 with the sample drawn from across the six states (Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo) in the southwest geo-political zone of Nigeria, as the subjects of this research.

The instrument for the research was assessed for three types of validity: face validity, content validity, and construct validity, before it was distributed to the participants.

The data-gathering instrument in this approach was a questionnaire. It was divided into four sections: demographic characteristics of the respondents, awareness and attitudes towards water pollution, awareness and attitudes towards water conservation, and participants' awareness and perceptions of EE.

The data collected through the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance to provide insights into the perceptions of EE and its impact on Nigeria's water conservation and pollution prevention.

The study objectives were conveyed to all the respondents before administering the questionnaires. Participants were guaranteed confidentiality and made aware of their right to withdraw from the study at any time.

Data were collected from 766 individuals in Nigeria with diverse educational backgrounds to gauge their awareness and attitude towards the role EE plays in water pollution prevention and conservation. In the study, 386 females and 380 males participated (Table 1). Most of the respondents were active youth aged 21–30 years (Table 1). The six states in the southwest zone of Nigeria were all represented (Table 1). More than 98% of the respondents were literate, as shown in Table 1 below. More than 50% of the respondents had bachelor's degrees (Table 1).

This survey collected data from 766 individuals in Nigeria with diverse educational backgrounds to gauge their views on the increase in frequency and severity of water pollution and conservation in recent years. Based on the data in Table 2, almost all the respondents (88.3%) had a good attitude towards open defecation. They agreed that open defecation pollutes rivers, lakes, and the sea. Based on the level of awareness of water pollution arising from farm chemicals, more than 90% of the respondents are aware that water bodies like rivers, lakes, and seas in Nigeria were polluted as a result of agrochemicals used on the farm. Only 7.6% of respondents strongly disagreed with the statement (Table 2). The level of awareness of the respondents concerning water pollution because of illegal mining is high. More than 90% of the respondents were aware of this source of water pollution, while only 6.9% disagreed and strongly disagreed that illegal mining pollutes rivers, lakes, and the sea (Table 2). Slightly more than half (60.3%) of the respondents agreed and strongly agreed that humans can change nature to meet our daily needs (Table 2). Awareness concerning the need for EE was very high among the respondents. More than 83% of the respondents had undergone some form of EE in previous years, while about half had previously been involved in water management education (Table 2). Almost half (50.4%) and 46.2% of the respondents strongly agreed and agreed, respectively, that EE should be made compulsory in the school curriculum, while only 0.4% disagreed. All the respondents agreed and strongly agreed that EE is a valuable tool for solving environmental problems (Table 2).

The natural environment is crucial to almost all the respondents (99.8%), while less than 1% did not agree with the statement that the environment is important and fragile (Table 2). Just slightly above the average number of the respondents were aware and agreed strongly that water is an essential natural resource to man. About 80% of the respondents were aware and agreed that reducing water consumption is a way to protect the environment. In comparison, only about 20% of the respondents were unaware and did not agree that reducing water consumption is a way of protecting the environment. A low percentage of the respondents (39.6%) knew that saving water reflects civilization and good behaviour.

Most respondents' attitude towards reducing the water pollution problem was because it is terrible for the environment and impoverishes future generations. Most of the respondents (89%) did not support the prevention of water pollution. From Table 3, it can be seen that 18.4 and 43.3% of the respondents strongly agreed and agreed, respectively, to the statement that family members still pour their household waste in the gutters when it rains. Only 38.2% of the respondents did not pour household waste into the drainage when it rains. Not less than 98.4% of the respondents flush detergents, oil, paint, and fungicides through sinks or water closets in their homes, while less than 2% did not engage in such acts.

The respondents had a good attitude towards water conservation. Very few respondents (14.5%) agreed that they leave the water running in the kitchen when washing and rinsing dishes. About 86% disagreed with leaving the water running in the kitchen when washing and rinsing dishes. They believed that the water tap was supposed to be closed. About three-fourth of the respondents and their family members did throw or drop litter at the shores of rivers and lakes if they did not have waste collection bins or trash cans around them. Only 25% of the respondents and their family members did not engage in such activity.

About 62% of the respondents shower no more than 5 min each time they bathe. Only about 38% of the respondents shower for more than 5 min. Almost all the respondents (91%) and their family members used rain barrels to collect water for use when it rains, while less than 10% of the respondents did not collect rainwater for use (Table 3).

Different age groups were involved in the survey. There was a significant difference in the level of awareness and attitude towards water pollution and conservation among the other age groups involved in the survey (Table 4). Table 5 shows that respondents' education level influences their level of awareness and attitude towards water pollution and conservation.

The general findings of this study show that the level of awareness of water pollution was high among the respondents. This finding speaks to facts common in developing countries, where environmental pollution increases daily due to public environmental ignorance and intention to act (Nahar et al. 2021). The respondents knew that open defecation, mining, and chemicals from farms could lead to river, lake, and sea pollution (Zhou et al. 2022). EE should be made compulsory in the school curriculum, and it is a valuable tool for preventing water pollution and conservation. EE will help prevent water pollution and increase water conservation efforts among the young and the old. It will raise awareness of water pollution prevention strategies and improve people's attitudes towards water conservation (Ardoin et al. 2020; Karataş & Karataş 2023). The level of awareness concerning EE was very high among the respondents. EE is useful in solving environmental problems, especially water pollution and conservation (Ogueri et al. 2020). It can increase environmental knowledge and positive behaviour towards the environment. Proper EE, monitoring, regulation, and control can prevent water pollution (Kiraz et al. 2020). Most people still pour household waste inside drainages when it rains. The results also show that most people still leave their taps running while washing and rinsing dishes. The wrong attitude of throwing waste at the shores of rivers and lakes was still prevalent among people in the study area (Kalina et.al. 2022). The findings of the current study show a resemblance with other research. The findings of this study validate the findings of Boubonari et al. (2013), Al-Maliki et al. (2021), and Hammami et al. (2017) that strategies addressing deficiencies provide incentives for change and ensure governmental support and EE are needed to bridge the information gap and enhance opportunities to adopt pro-environmental behaviours. The results further strengthen the importance of EE in educating the people and community on the implications of water pollution and the need to work to abate the incidence of water pollution as a health hazard within the community (Boubonari et al. 2013; Hammami et al. 2017, Al-Maliki et al. 2021).

EE can increase awareness and understanding of water pollution prevention. It encourages individuals to adopt practices that conserve water as a vital environmental resource. Most respondents were aware of water pollution and prevention strategies; however, people's attitude towards water conservation was very poor. The age of people affects their level of awareness and attitude towards water pollution, prevention, and conservation. However, the level of education does not affect the level of awareness and attitude towards water pollution prevention and conservation in Nigeria. While most respondents knew the importance of water conservation, more work is needed to promote good attitudes and behaviour to prioritize and implement sustainable water usage practices.

The high level of awareness and negative attitudes towards actions that contribute to water pollution suggest that EE programmes should reinforce positive attitudes and behaviours related to water conservation and pollution prevention. The wrong attitude of dropping waste inside drainages and leaving the tap running while washing or rinsing dishes should not be encouraged. EE emphasizing water pollution prevention and conservation should be made compulsory in the school curriculum at all levels of education. In addition, there is a need for the Federal Ministry of Water Resource to provide regulations on household and company water conservation and enforce the same with penalties for non-compliance. Since EE has been found to promote increased awareness and a good attitude towards water pollution prevention and conservation, future research can explore the underlying factors contributing to the varying attitudes and behaviour towards water conservation.

All relevant data are included in the paper or its Supplementary Information.

The authors declare there is no conflict.