Integrated Wastewater Quality Assessment, Risk Analysis, and Rehabilitation Costing for Sustainable Sanitation in African Aviation Infrastructure

Abstract: The assessment of sanitation and wastewater management at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, was conducted to quantify sewage generation, evaluate effluent quality, and identify the rehabilitation needs of the sewage treatment plant (STP). Passenger and facility usage data indicated an annual sewage output of 1,117,087 cubic meters, equivalent to 255.04 cubic meters per day; when including contributions from service vehicles, the total increased to 275.04 cubic meters per day. Laboratory analyses revealed widespread non-compliance with benchmarks established by LASEPA, NESREA, WHO, and ICAO: treated effluent exceeded permissible limits for colour (854 Pt-Co versus 250), total suspended solids (154 mg/L versus 100), chloride (493 mg/L versus 250), chemical oxygen demand (201 mg/L versus 200), and biochemical oxygen demand (50.25 mg/L versus 20–50), while dissolved oxygen levels were critically low at 0.53 mg/L (versus ≥2). Microbial indicators persisted positive for total and faecal coliforms. Field inspections confirmed that the STP has been largely non-operational for over three years due to critical mechanical failures. The findings indicate severe risks of groundwater contamination, disease transmission, and regulatory violations. It is recommended that immediate rehabilitation, preventive maintenance, and the integration of sanitation strategies into the airport’s master plan be undertaken to restore compliance and resilience, thereby contributing to the achievement of SDG 6.

Airport sanitation, Effluent quality compliance, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Public health risk, Rehabilitation costing, Wastewater treatment plant

1. Abebe, A., Tesfaye, M., & Mekonnen, B. (2021). Sanitation infrastructure and service bottlenecks in African transport hubs: Case studies from Addis Ababa. Journal of Environmental Management, 288, 112402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112402 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Adewale, A., Ogunleye, O., & Ajayi, K. (2019). Operational failures of sewage treatment plants in Lagos: Lessons for sustainable sanitation. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 16, 100460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2019.100460 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. American Public Health Association (APHA). (2017). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (23rd ed.). American Public Health Association. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). (2018). Airport services manual: Environmental management (Part 3 – Sanitation). ICAO. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Ilyas, H., & van der Hoek, J. P. (2020). Water and wastewater management in airports: Risks and opportunities. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 152, 104517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104517 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Mensah, J., Agyemang, E., & Boateng, P. (2024). Sanitation and environmental health risks in Sub-Saharan African airports. Science of the Total Environment, 909, 167857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167857 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Njoroge, P., Mwangi, J., & Karanja, J. (2023). Wastewater management challenges at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30, 44250–44263. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-25210-7 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Olalekan, R. M., Adeola, O., & Ojo, O. (2021). Effluent quality compliance of sewage treatment plants in Nigeria: Evidence and implications. Heliyon, 7(4), e06750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06750 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Okoye, O. C., Chukwuma, R. C., & Eze, J. I. (2020). Public Health Impacts of Untreated Wastewater Discharges in Nigeria. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 10(2), 234–246. https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2020.085 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2022). Wastewater treatment and resource recovery: Rehabilitation guidelines for developing countries. UNEP. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. World Health Organisation (WHO). (2002). Water, Sanitation, and Health: Fact Sheet on Sanitation. WHO. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. World Health Organisation (WHO). (2017). Guidelines for drinking-water quality (4th ed., incorporating 1st addendum). WHO. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Advanced Techniques for Fake News Detection on Twitter Using NLP and AI: A Comprehensive Review
• Review of Self Compacting Geopolymer Concrete Using Slag Sand as Fine Aggregate
• Performance of Local Construction Contractors – Case Study of Registered Contractors in Monrovia, Liberia
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Innovation Management in Multinational Organizations
• Modeling of Reaction Between Dissolved Oxygen (DO) And Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) in Degradation River