THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FLOODING AND THE ADEQUACY OF ADEQUATE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN NSUKKA METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

Drainage is the process in which water leaches downward from the upper soil layers to lower layers, or how surface water is removed. Proper drainage is important because not all plants prefer moist conditions. In nature certain minerals such as sand provide rapid drainage, while heavy minerals like clay can restrict drainage. For container or potted plants drainage is facilitated by holes in the bottom of the pot.

Nsukka, a commercial city has been a fast development as an urban settlement in the Eastern part of Nigeria. The study discovered a lot of problem that led to the study on the flooding, disaster management and urban development in Nsukka. The first factor is that flooding which causes physical damage to structures, social dislocation, contamination of clean drinking water, spread of water-borne diseases, shortage of crops and food supplies death of non tolerant tree species, disruption in transportation system, serious economic loss and psychological trauma. Huge sum of money meant for other purposes were spent to cushion the effect of flooding through different disaster management agencies. Looking at Nsukka as a developing commercial urban center there is a need to bring the relationship between flooding and the adequacy of adequate drainage system in Nsukka, Enugu state.

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

One of the major issues virtually all the urban cities in Nigeria are battling with is the poor drainage systems. Most of streets within the urban and rural settlement are faced with the challenges such as lack of drainages or properly designed drainages to evacuate storm water from the surface-course of our roads. Cities the world over are the dominating forces in the organization of human population. As the world most crowded places, cities continue to show increase in urban population. This increase leads to a growing urbanization trend. Duru and Nnaji (2008) defined urbanization as the increase in the population of cities in proportion to the region’s rural population. Urbanization is the result of social, economic and political advancements that lead to focus and development of large communities, changes in land use and change from rural to metropolitan example of organization and governance. Fast growth and development of towns and cities has been basic component of the developing nations (Aderamo, 2008). In spite of the fact that urbanization is the main thrust for modernization, economic growth and development, there is great worry about the impacts of the expansion of urban communities, chiefly on human wellbeing, occupations and nature.

The main aim of drainage systems is to ensure that waste water and sewage is transported neatly to disposal points, thereby keeping the environment well drained and free of waste. Examples of components that make up a good drainage system includes; closed ditches having pipe drains, drainage pipes, channels and conduits (Folorunsho & Awosika, 2001). Sustainable Drainage Systems are approaches put in place to manage the water quantity (flooding), water quality (pollution) and amenity issues in the environment. Sustainable drainage is a concept that includes long term environmental and social factors in decisions about drainage. Practical Drainage Systems are expected to manage surface water spillover near where it falls and reproduce characteristic waste as intently as could reasonably be expected. They give chances to lessen the causes and effects of flooding, expel toxins from urban spillover at source, and consolidate water the board with entertainment and untamed life. They additionally help to upgrade water quality while securing regular stream systems in conduits (Dipanjan and Mukherjee 2014).

In many parts of Nigeria today especially the eastern part of the country where Nsukka which is the case study of this work falls to, there is a great need for properly managed sustainable drainage systems in order to help manage surface water runoff. Neighborhoods keep springing up without proper planning, which also involves planning for drainage and sewage or waste disposal. Residents regularly dump their waste in gutters, and this clogs the gutters and prevents the flow of water, causing the gutters to overflow (Enger & Smith, 2006). It is entirely expected to see overwhelmed streets with litter gliding wherever after a brief time of precipitation. Such circumstances make unsanitary conditions for inhabitants of the areas and add to the debasement of nature. In the year 2012, 363 individuals were dreaded dead while 2.1 million residents were displaced across Nigeria because of floods. As per the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), 30 states out of 36 in Nigeria were influenced by that flood understanding and it was finished up as the most terrible that has ever occurred in the previous 40 years, causing harms of an expected estimation of N2.6 trillion Naira (Jimoh, 2008). These floods likewise offered gave rise to environmental pollution issues which influenced the health of Nigerians over the different influenced territories. Nigeria is at present encountering its yearly rainy season, and so as to maintain a strategic distance from deadly floods it is essential to have compelling drainage system and endeavor towards guaranteeing free passage of water during and after heavy rainfall. Inadequately kept up drainage systems and poor waste management habits can unfavorably influence our condition (Okupe, 2002).

The implications of rapid urbanization and demographic trends for employment, food security, water supply, shelter and sanitation, especially the disposal of wastes (solid and liquid) that the cities produce are staggering (Oduwaiye, 2009). The process of urbanization is believed to be connected with levels of development and some assert that, for a country to develop there is the need for an increased level of industrialization as it is generally accepted that there cannot be urbanization without rapid economic growth (Tettey, 2005). The pattern of urbanization in developing countries, particularly Africa, however, is creating some concern that it may be generating a lot of development problems in the process of its growth. One of the daunting challenges facing African countries in the wake of unprecedented urbanization during the last few decades is the planning and management of physical infrastructure and the urban environment (Kwasi, 2011).

Waste quality is a significant parameter which influences the roadway pavement performance. The inordinate water content in the pavement base, sub-base, and sub-level soils can make early distress and lead to an auxiliary or practical failure of pavement. Drainage is the most significant part of road plan and design. Legitimate structure of drainage is essential for the palatable and delayed execution of the pavement. In designing drainage system, the essential target is to appropriately oblige water stream along and over the street and helpfully transport and store the water to the downstream with no impediment in the stream (Rokade, Agarwal and Shrivastava, 2012). A run of the street construction development is multi-layered in structure, containing unbound materials. Basically, the lower indigenous subgrade layer is covered by a bound or unbound sub base, giving waste and ice insurance to the subgrade, and the road base layer whereupon the black-top layers are laid as a last surface coating. Poor drainage in pavement can prompt early pavement distresses lead to driving issues and structural failures of the road. The essential source of water in pavements is barometrical precipitation. This water can enter the pavement through a few different ways (e.g., breaks, invasion, through shoulders and dump, high groundwater) and is moved by a vitality slope, for example, gravity, slim powers, osmotic powers, and temperature or pressure contrasts (Henderson, 2004).

Flooding in urban regions is not simply identified with substantial precipitation and outrageous climatic occasions; it is additionally identified with changes in the developed regions themselves. On account of Nsukka, the issues of road flooding started when some financial and anthropogenic exercises picked up energy as a method for cosmetic touch ups the city. The influx of individuals from both rural and urban states prompted expanded interest for housing. Houses were swiftly worked to satisfy the blossoming need for cover because of revolt. This modifies the stylish picture of the city as structures were raised in any case and anyplace (Sule, 2004).

Statement of the Problem

Nsukka, a commercial city has been a fast development as an urban settlement in the Eastern part of Nigeria. The study discovered a lot of problem that led to the study on the flooding, disaster management and urban development in Nsukka. The first factor is that flooding which causes physical damage to structures, social dislocation, contamination of clean drinking water, spread of water-borne diseases, shortage of crops and food supplies death of non tolerant tree species, disruption in transportation system, serious economic loss and psychological trauma. Huge sum of money meant for other purposes were spent to cushion the effect of flooding through different disaster management agencies. Looking at Nsukka as a developing commercial urban center there is a need to bring the relationship between flooding and the adequacy of adequate drainage system in Nsukka, Enugu state.

 

 

1.3     Objectives of the Study

            The main aim of this study is to establish the relationship between flooding and the adequacy of adequate drainage system in Nsukka metropolis. The specific objectives of the study are:

a)     To examine the effects of poor drainage system on the residents of Nsukka metropolis

b)    To investigate the attitudes of the residents of Nsukka metropolis towards drainage system and flooding

c)     To determine how proper implementation of urban development plan can reduce flooding in Nsukka metropolis

d)    To investigate the spatial distribution of drainage networks in Nsukka metropolis

1.4     Research Questions

The study answered the following research questions toward achieving the research objectives:

a)     What are the effects of poor drainage system on the residents of Nsukka metropolis?

b)    What are the attitudes of the residents of Nsukka metropolis towards drainage system and flooding?

c)     How can proper implementation of urban development plan reduce flooding in Nsukka metropolis?

d)    What is the spatial distribution of drainage networks in Nsukka metropolis?

1.5     Research Hypotheses

            The following hypotheses were tested in this study:

a)     There is a significant effect of poor drainage system on the residents of Nsukka metropolis

b)    There is a significant relationship between attitudes of Nsukka metropolis and drainage system and flooding

c)     There is a significant relationship between spatial distribution of drainage networks and flooding in Nsukka metropolis

1.6     Significance of the Study

            This study will be of great benefit to various sectors both governmental and Non-governmental organization. The study will be significant to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) as it revealed the various areas of poor sanitation in Maiduguri. It will be of benefit to environmentalist and town planners as the study revealed the various areas of poor town planning which resulted to lack of drainage because no good street for drainages to be constructed. The study will also help the health sectors in identifying the various diseases bedeviling the community of the study area due to excessive flooding which breaded some bacterial and diseases. NGOs who are concern with WASH activities will also find this study very useful as it revealed the sanitary conditions of the environment. Finally, the study will be of great benefit to students and researchers who may need information on the subject matter under study.

1.7     Scope of the Study

            The scope of the study is to establish the relationship between flooding and the adequacy of adequate drainage system in Nsukka metropolis in Enugu state, the effect and causes of the flooding in the area, the study will make most of its assertions from Nsukka metropolis as it has been the area more prone to flooding in the state.

1.8     Limitation of the Study

            The problem encountered in the cause of my study was, sourcing of secondary data in most of disaster management agencies both the state, and the federal agencies as most of them were reluctant on the release data and information necessary to carry out the study. Moreover, to overcome this challenges face to face interviews was carried out to get my findings.

1.9     Definition of Terms

            In the course of the study the following variables shall defined and explained for overview of understanding, as most of them where subjects of discussion in the course of my study.

Flooding/flood: The European Union (EU) Floods Directive defines a flood as a covering by water of land not normally covered by water. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Flooding may result from the volume of water within a body of water, such as a river or lake, which overflows or breaks levees, with the result that some of the water escapes its usual boundaries or may be due to accumulation of rainwater on saturated ground in an area flood.

Disaster management. These are  actions taken to mitigate that is  means reduction of risk from hazards to acceptable levels through predetermined physical measures accompanying development, Preparedness means making specific preparations for knowing beforehand what to do after a disaster, Response means actions taken to respond to the disaster after it has happened, such as rescuing survivors, mass evacuation, feeding and sheltering victims, restoring communications, etc

Drainage system: an essential part of living in a city or urban area, as it reduces flood damage by carrying water away.

Urban development: Is the social, cultural, economic and physical development of cities, as well as the underlying causes of these processes. Cities and their development is a central topic in human geography, and the study of cities makes up the sub-discipline of city geography or urbanism.

Waste management: Is the generation, prevention, characterization, monitoring, treatment, handling, reuse and residual disposition of solid wastes.