An Overview of Onsite Residential Sewage Disposal and the Implications on Underground Water Supply and Health in Nigeria

A residential housing is normally designed to serve the immediate need for human activities. Usually, provision for collection and disposal of sewage is a priority to enhance a healthy living environment. The millennium development goal on human health remains unrealistic in many developing countries due to poor disposal of sewage. Using a combination of primary and secondary data this study presents an overview of onsite sewage disposal and its impact on underground water and health issues in Nigeria. Findings show that onsite septic tank is the main method of sewage disposal. An average of 5 m was observed between the shallow dug well and septic tank. Hence, the underground water is highly susceptible to contamination but remains the primary source of domestic water supply. Reported cases of cholera traceable to fecal contamination of underground water remain very high. This paper argues for the involvement of professional in the building industry to present a proposal or a central sewage system particularly where the risk of infiltration of sewage into the water body is high.