Comparative analysis of wastewater management in selected bottling companies in Lagos State

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

All through history, water has been crucial to human development for different purposes.
Over time, the global increase in urbanization, industrialization, and population growth has
dramatically increased the production of wastewater, making its management a major
environmental and public health challenge (Simon et al., 2023). According to the United
Nations, over 80% of the world's wastewater flows back into the environment without being
treated or reused, particularly in low and middle income countries (UNESCO, 2021).
In developed nations, refined treatment facilities and regulatory agendas have
significantly improved wastewater management, leading to better public health outcomes and
environmental protection. However, in many parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, weak
infrastructure, inadequate funding, and limited public awareness contribute to the prevalent
discharge of untreated wastewater into natural water bodies (WWAP, 2021). This situation
exacerbates issues such as groundwater contamination, marine pollution, and water scarcity.
Mainly in Africa, wastewater management remains a consistent challenge due to rapid
urbanization, population growth, economic constraints, and limited infrastructure development.
It is estimated that only a small percentage of wastewater generated on the continent undergoes
any form of treatment before being discharged into the environment (WHO/UNICEF, 2020).
The consequences of poor wastewater management in Africa are profound, including
increased cases of waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid fever, as well as
severe degradation of aquatic ecosystems (UNEP, 2021). In urban slums the lack of proper
wastewater disposal systems exacerbates public health crises and undermines efforts to achieve
sustainable development goals.
In recent years, there have been more efforts to improve wastewater management through
international partnerships, public-private initiatives, and the adoption of decentralized treatment
technologies in Africa (WWAP, 2021). However, widespread progress remains slow due to
persistent issues of funding, political will, and technical capacity.
Nigeria still lack efficient water and wastewater treatment processes. Nigeria's water and
wastewater treatment infrastructure experiences considerable challenges due to several variables,
including population growth, poverty, corruption, urbanization, industry, and climate change.
Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR) and UNICEF stated in the
WASHNORM (2021) report that only about 11% of the entire population could access essential
drinking water and sanitation services. It was also stated that only 14% have access to safe,
managed drinking water supply services. Water, being a crucial basic necessity, means that its
uses should be made more sustainable to reduce waste, and wastewater should be treated
appropriately and disposed of, but this is almost not the case in the country. According to a study
published in 2020, it was reported that on a national level, over 80% of Nigeria's industrial
wastewater does not undergoes treatment before being released into the environment
Obumneme et al 2023).
Water is the key processing medium used throughout mineral production in beverage
industries, including drink production, sweetening and coloring processes, bottle cleaning and
washing, and plant washdown. As a result, water consumption rises significantly, leading to
higher volumes of wastewater discharge, whether treated or untreated, into the environment.
Industrial effluents from industries are discharged into water bodies such as rivers, lakes,
streams, and such a practice has noteworthy implications for aquatic ecosystems. This said,
wastewater has been reported to contain repulsive and potentially harmful substances that
contaminate soil and aquatic ecosystems (Shaw and Schrudam, 2020; Haroon et al, 2024).
Wastewater composition is essentially a function of the industry under consideration
hence varying from industry to industry. For instance, wastewater originating from beverage and
dairy industries is most likely to be laden with high levels of biochemical oxygen demand
(BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and electrical conductivity (Sarkar et al., 2020). The
high concentration levels of these parameters in the effluent have necessitated the use of
wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to reduce their concentrations to levels that will be
harmless to the environment. However, if for any reason the WWTPs malfunctions and it is not
detected, there will be a very high chance of the receiving environment being polluted. The
problem of effective treatment of wastewater is more severe in underdeveloped or developing
countries due to the high cost of conventional treatment systems and such untreated or poorly
treated wastewater eventually finds its way to agricultural farm lands which have damaging
long-term effects on soil, groundwater and human health (Bijekar S et al, 2022).
According to research posted on [Link], by Christopher Oluwakunmi (2024), he stated
that Lagos alone generates roughly 475 million metric tonnes of wastewater annually. Also, the
Assistant Director, Scientific and Head of the Wastewater Education unit, Mrs Sesi Akoro-
Bamigbade, collaborated this statement when she disclosed 1.92 billion litres of untreated
domestic wastewater being generated daily in Lagos.
In Nigeria, Wastewater discharged from the beverages and diary production remains a
critical issue (Adewumi and Oguntuase, 2021), leading to environmental degradation, health
impacts, and economic risks. The social, economic, health, and ecological effects of untreated
and unregulated wastewater prove very costly, as seen in a 2010 waterborne disease outbreak in
Lagos also had severe negative impacts. (FMFR and JICA, 2013).
Nigeria's wastewater treatment focuses on removing biological oxygen demand (BOD)
(Yorkor and Momoh, 2019). It often gives minimal consideration to removing phosphorus and
nitrogen, which are also in high concentrations. According to the World Bank’s 2021 report
titled “Towards Sustainable Wastewater Management in Nigeria”, it is estimated that Nigeria has
only about 30 functional wastewater treatment plants, with six of them, namely Abesan, Oke
Afa, Alausa, Olusosun, Nigerian Brewery Lagos and university of Lagos are located in Lagos
State. However, even these treatment facilities struggle to keep up with the sheer volume of
wastewater generated, leading to significant environmental and public health concerns.
Consequently, it is very important to monitor the effluent exiting the WWTPs of bottling
companies in Nigeria to ensure that the efficacy of the plants is not compromised.
In Nigeria, not every bottling company is obligated to have a wastewater treatment plant
(WWTP), but they are expected to comply with environmental regulations regarding wastewater
management. But larger bottling companies that generate a lot of wastewater, like PepsiCo and
the seven up bottling companies, must own a wastewater treatment plant.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Despite the existence of environmental regulations and policies established by agencies

like the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA)
and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), compliance levels among
bottling companies vary widely (NESREA, 2009; LASEPA, 2020). Although environmental
regulatory bodies enforce their policies and regulations, wastewater management in Nigeria
remains a significant environmental challenge. Ineffective enforcement of regulations,
inadequate monitoring, poor infrastructure development, limited public awareness, and
insufficient funding have resulted in widespread discharge of untreated or poorly treated
wastewater into water bodies. Additionally, overlapping responsibilities among regulatory
agencies have caused coordination failures, further undermining efforts to control wastewater
pollution. These challenges have led to severe environmental degradation, public health risks,
and decreased water quality, highlighting the urgent need to identify and address the gaps in the
regulatory framework and its implementation. While some companies have invested in modern
wastewater treatment plants and adhere strictly to environmental standards, while others still
dispose untreated or partially treated effluents into the environment, often citing cost or
operational challenges (Ehiwario et al., 2021).

This inconsistency in wastewater management practices raises critical questions about

corporate responsibility, regulatory enforcement, and the effectiveness of existing waste
treatment infrastructures. Furthermore, there is a growing concern about how these practices
affect not just the immediate environment but also the broader public health in densely populated
areas of Lagos State (Ogunyemi & Adefemi, 2019).

Given the importance of water resources and the impact of industrial activities on
sustainable development goals, it is imperative to evaluate and compare the wastewater
management approaches employed by bottling companies operating in Lagos. By conducting a
comparative analysis, this study aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses in current
practices, assess the level of compliance with environmental laws, and propose actionable
recommendations for improving wastewater management. Ultimately, the study seeks to
contribute to the body of knowledge on industrial environmental practices and support policy
makers, industries, and environmental advocates in promoting more sustainable and responsible
wastewater management in Lagos State.

1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study is of this research is to analyze and compare the wastewater
management practices of selected bottling companies in Lagos State.

The objectives of this study are to

1. Describe industrial wastewater generation in bottling companies
2. Evaluate waste water treatment plants capabilities.
3. Evaluate the water treatment processes of selected bottling companies in Lagos
state.
4. Compare water treatment across selected bottling companies in Lagos state
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
In the course of engaging in research work, the study was faced with series of questions. This
includes:
(1) To what extent do these selected bottling companies in Lagos state comply with national
and international wastewater discharge standards?
(2) To what extent do bottling companies incorporate sustainable practices in their waste
water management?
(3) What ae the major challenges hindering effective wastewater management in bottling
companies in Lagos state
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
Hypothesis One
Ho1: There is no significant difference in compliance levels between the selected bottling
companies
Hypothesis Two
H1: The selected bottling companies adopt sustainable wastewater practices.
Hypothesis Three
Ho2: The main challenges include high operational cost and a weak regulatory enforcement.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is significant because it sheds light on the current state of wastewater management
practices among bottling companies in Lagos State, Nigeria. With the growing concerns over
environmental pollution, public health risks, and the degradation of water bodies caused by
untreated industrial effluents, this research provides valuable insights into how effectively these
companies are managing their wastewater.
By comparing the wastewater treatment processes of selected bottling companies, the study will
help identify gaps in compliance with environmental standards and assess the sustainability of
current practices. The findings will benefit environmental regulatory bodies such as NESREA
and LASEPA by highlighting areas that require stronger enforcement and policy improvement. It
will also be useful to the bottling companies themselves, encouraging more responsible
environmental practices and helping them align with global sustainability goals.

In addition, this study contributes to the broader academic and public understanding of industrial
wastewater challenges in developing countries, offering recommendations that can support
cleaner industrial operations, improved public health, and better environmental protection in
Nigeria and similar settings.

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