Grey Water Re-Use: A Sustainable Option for Addressing Household Water Scarcity in Makurdi Town, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Water scarcity is a fundamental problem for many countries around the world. This paper examined the possibility of adopting and using grey water as an option for addressing household water scarcity in Makurdi town. The study utilized mainly primary data sourced using a structured questionnaire. Systematic random sampling was employed for questionnaire administration (200 households), using a ratio of 1:5 households. The study quantitatively estimated the average amount of water consumed by households for different purposes. The study also estimated potential amount of grey water that can be generated by households. Findings show that mean daily water consumption of households falls below the 115 litres/cap/day internationally recommended minimum requirement. Also the daily total grey water production of 776.9 litres for householdsis below what is obtainable in other parts of the world. This amount of grey water can however compliment fresh water supplies. The paper concludes that with technological advancement and public acceptance, grey water can be a potential water saving option.