Improving irrigation water quality with local filters in Akungba Akoko, Southwest, Nigeria

The shortage of freshwater for irrigating vegetables in Akungba Akoko, Nigeria, is a critical concern during the dry season, demanding urgent attention. Local farmers rely heavily on polluted well and stream water for irrigation, which poses significant health risks due to contamination from refuse and pollutants. Addressing this challenge requires the development of a simple, cost-effective treatment facility to remove contaminants and make the water suitable for irrigation. This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of a straightforward filtration system using various physical materials to improve water quality. Conducted at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, the study focused on evaluating granite and river sand filtration on water collected from a local stream at Ibaka, Akungba-Akoko on April 7th, 2023. The filtered and unfiltered waters, categorized as follows: T0 = Borehole water (Control), T1 = Unfiltered water, T2 = water filtered with granite, T3 = water filtered with pure river sand, and T4 = water filtered with combined physical filters were subjected to physicochemical and microbiological analyses to determine its suitability for irrigation purposes. The study revealed that using single or combined physical filtration materials led to a notable decrease in microbial levels in the water samples. Additionally, significant reductions in total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were observed in water filtered through these materials, either alone or in combination. Granite filtration (T2) resulted in notably higher pH (5.57 Ms/cm), EC (172.00 μ.S/cm) and nitrogen (27.00 mg/L) levels, while combined filtration (granite and pure river sand) (T4) showed higher levels of phosphorus (9.35 mg/L). These findings demonstrate the efficacy of both singular and combined physical filtration materials in improving wastewater quality. Thus, employing these filtration methods, either individually or in combination, is recommended for local farmers, especially in Akungba Akoko, South West Nigeria, to enhance water quality for agricultural purposes.