CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Theoretical Framework

This study’s theoretical framework depends on Pollution Control Theory. According to this
theory, managing and minimizing pollution from human activities is a critical requirement,
primarily through the promotion of successful waste management systems together with the
associated regulations. In the context of this theory, pollution takes place as a result of the
release of harmful substances, such as chemicals and biological contaminants, which
adversely affect ecosystems and human health. Pollution Control Theory holds that the
correct handling of waste, especially solid waste, can greatly cut down environmental
contamination, with particular emphasis on water bodies. The context of this investigation
makes Pollution Control Theory especially important in terms of its explanation that
improper solid waste disposal produces leachate that can seep into both surface and
groundwater systems. The theory brings attention to the important need for successful waste
management techniques, including recycling, waste treatment, and monitored landfilling, to
improve water quality by decreasing the detrimental effects of solid waste.

2.1.1 Application of Pollution Control Theory

The theory of Pollution Control has seen extensive use in environmental studies aimed at
elucidating the relationship that exists between waste management and environmental
pollution. This theory has been applied by several scholars to investigate the fallout of
inadequate waste disposal methods on water quality, forming the basis for this study.

Adeniran and Olukanni (2020) implemented Pollution Control Theory in their work
investigating waste management in Lagos, Nigeria. They investigated how solid waste affects
groundwater quality and concluded that leachates from improperly managed dumping
grounds seriously affect water quality. The findings demonstrated raised concentrations of
heavy metals together with microbial contamination in water sources close to waste disposal
areas. The study proposed that strengthening waste controls might lessen the detrimental
impacts of solid waste on the environment.

Igbokwe and Ezeaku (2021) applied Pollution Control Theory in their assessment of urban
solid waste effects on water quality in Enugu, Nigeria. The studies showed improper waste
disposal methods, especially in informal waste dumps, were to blame For Nearby water body
contamination. The research recommended using pollution control mechanisms, including
better waste collection systems and the application of landfill linings to decrease the number
of contaminants entering water systems.

In their study of waste management and water pollution in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Onuoha et
al. (2018) adopted the theory. From their perspective, informed by Pollution Control Theory,
the reasons for worsening water quality include inadequate waste disposal services and an
under-enforcement of environmental laws. The research pointed out the importance of both
regulatory systems and public awareness to manage pollution and progress waste
management practices.

The mechanisms through which solid waste disposal influences water quality become
understandable thanks to the application of Pollution Control Theory in the Awka metropolis.
Thanks to ongoing urbanization in Awka, the management of waste has grown into a
significant problem, resulting in unauthorized dumping and unregulated landfilling. This
waste disposal site leachates These are likely significant culprits in water contamination,
which impacts both surface water (rivers and streams) and groundwater needed for domestic
use.

This theory helps us identify a crucial route for analysing the intersection between solid waste
disposal and water quality, particularly the important actions needed to control the pollutants
that contaminate water bodies. The objective of this work is to apply Pollution Control
Theory to understand how waste disposal practices in the Awka metropolis influence water,
quality and propose mitigation strategies that include improved waste management practices
and the control of pollution.

2.2 Literature review

In cities, the disposal of solid waste is a critical environmental sustainability and public
health matter. The inappropriate handling of solid waste markedly influences water quality in
Awka metropolis. This chapter reviews current scholarly works on the subjects of solid waste,
water quality, and the correlation between inappropriate solid waste management and water
contamination.

2.2.1 Concept of Solid Waste

Solid waste is waste that results from human activities and can be defined as that which is not
in a liquid or gaseous state. The list includes waste from households, industries, agriculture,
and biomedicine. Based on the danger it represents for human health and the environment,
the World Health Organization (WHO) defines waste as either hazardous or non-hazardous
(WHO, 2018). Inadequate management of solid waste happens when collection of waste is
poor, causing environmental damage such as contamination of both water and soil
(Chandrappa and Das, 2012). Urban growth and population increase in places like Awka have
raised solid waste generation, placing stress on the already available waste management
infrastructure (Onwuemenyi, 2019).

The physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water define how usable it is for
human consumption, agriculture, and a broad range of other uses. The evaluation of water
quality performed according to the standards set by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA) factors in pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen
demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), as well as heavy metal concentrations,
bacteria, and pathogens (2017).

In the context of solid waste disposal, water quality is often compromised through leachates:
which arises from waste when rainwater percolates, extracting toxic substances that in turn
contaminate both surface and groundwater sources (Ali, 2016). The vicinity of dumpsites to
bodies of water seriously influences the quality of water in streams, rivers, and lakes
(Ogwueleka, 2009).

2.2.3 Solid Waste Disposal and Water Pollution in Urban Areas

If waste management is poor, urbanization leads to environmental pollution that is serious,

including water contamination. Okwuosa and Ogbulo (2020) note that poor waste
management methods, including open dumping and missing proper landfill systems, are the
principal causes of water pollution in urban areas.

The study carried out by Nnaji et al. (2017) in Awka discovered that inadequately disposing
of municipal solid waste in open spaces has caused contamination of water sources. Samples
collected from wells and rivers next to dumpsites showed, according to the study, higher
concentrations of heavy metals lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) that went beyond the allowable
limits defined by the World Health Organization.
2.2.4 Impact of Solid Waste Disposal on Water Quality in Awka Metropolis

The improper processing of solid waste is in Awka’s urban surroundings a major

environmental crisis. The area’s most pervasive waste disposal approach, open dumping,
seriously affects water quality. Igbokwe and Ezeaku (2021) found, through a research study,
that waste dump leachates penetrate groundwater sources, putting the quality of drinking
water at serious jeopardy. The investigation discovered that with respect to pollutants such as
nitrates, phosphates, and microbial contaminants, the concentration was beyond the quality
parameters laid out in the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ).

The study directed by Okonkwo et al. (2019) looked at the levels of bacterial contamination
in groundwater within the vicinity of solid waste dumpsites in Awka. Results showed that E.
Coli and coliform bacteria were in the water samples, which implied faecal contamination
probably originated from inadequate waste disposal.

2.2.5 Previous Studies on Solid Waste Disposal and Water Quality

Studies have examined the relationship between solid waste disposal and water quality in
urban environments. Investigations have evaluated the relationship that exists between urban
waste management and the quality of water resources. The study examined the ways in which
solid waste disposal affected the quality of groundwater in Lagos, Nigeria by Olusegun et al.
(2016). The results showed that waste dump areas featured groundwater sources with raised
concentrations of heavy metals and microbial contaminants, when compared to territories
practicing proper waste disposal methods.

Oguche and Ali (2020) carried out another study analyzing the influence of leachates from
solid waste dumpsites on the quality of surface water in Benue State. The results indicated
that river and stream water close to the dumpsites presented high concentrations of lead,
arsenic, and bacterial contamination, making it not fit for human use.

2.3 Research Gaps

2.3.1 Insufficient Data on Awka Metropolis Waste and Water Quality

Investigations into the impact of solid waste disposal on urban water quality, including those
in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Enugu, reveal a gap in localized data about Awka metropolis.
Research conducted in Nigeria often overgeneralizes its findings from the bigger city centers,
thereby omitting smaller and more rapidly urbanizing areas like Awka. A lack of research into
the detailed effects of inadequate waste management and open dumping on groundwater and
surface water in Awka has led to an imperfect understanding of the extent of water
contamination in the vicinity. This work responds to the existing gap by concentrating on the
special waste disposal issues in Awka and their direct relationship with local water quality.

2.3.2 Need for Improved Waste Management Policies and Regulations

Much research supports the need for superior waste management practices; however, there is
still insufficient data on the practical execution of these policies in smaller urban places
including Awka. The tendency is to focus on bigger cities, which have superior resources for
waste management. Due to the quickening pace of its population growth and urbanization,
Awka is still without the infrastructure or regulatory enforcement systems needed for
effective solid waste management. Research on how to modify or improve existing policies to
meet the special environmental and socioeconomic needs of Awka remains nearly
nonexistent. The findings of this study will point out the critical need for individualized waste
management approaches and policy amendments for Awka metropolis.

2.3.3 Potential for Community-Based Waste Management Solutions

Research into solid waste management usually underscores the importance of higher-level
regulatory actions, missing the insights provided by local community contributions to
controlling pollution. There is a deficit of research into approaches based in the community
that includes recycling efforts, initiatives to sensitize the public, and the requirement for
citizen participation in waste management. In Awka, though formal waste management
frameworks are insufficient, the opportunity for grassroots initiatives is still unexamined. The
purpose of this study is to explore how involving the community can mitigate the effect of
solid waste disposal on water quality.
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