Abstract

There are numerous causes of water pollution, but two general categories of pollutants exist, namely direct and indirect sources. The former category includes effluents that are released into water supplies as a result of sewage outputs from factories, refineries and waste treatment plants. The latter category comprises contaminants that seep into the water supply from soils and groundwater systems that contain fertilisers, pesticides and industrial wastes. Over time, there has been increasing global awareness of, and concern about, water pollution and innovative approaches have been developed towards sustainable solutions to prevent the exploitation of water resources. There is general agreement that a properly developed policy framework is a fundamental element of sound water resource management. The control and management of water pollution is usually addressed through the establishment of effective environmental legislation. Developing countries face the escalating challenge of preventing disease, environmental degradation and economic stagnation as a result of precious water resources becoming increasingly polluted and urgent and correctly directed action is required. This paper conducts an investigation of the legal frameworks for preventing water pollution in Nigeria, in particular, and assesses the effectiveness, or ineffectiveness, of these frameworks, making suggestions to improve the quality of Nigeria’s water system.