The need for manufacturers in the country to ensure efficient water quality control and environmental protection has been canvassed by the Provost and Dean of Post-Graduate Studies, College of Production & Operations Management-COPOM, Dr Olaniyi Opanuga.
He made this remark at a workshop on Basic Water Treatment and Pollution Control organized for managers, engineers, supervisors and technicians responsible for water system management and environmental protection including those performing production, maintenance, safety, health environment (SHE) and quality control functions in industries.
According to Dr Opanuga, thorough understanding of chemistry of water, its industrial applications and the need to comply with standards relating to the management of water systems in organizations was vital to the protection of public health and the environment. He said “ both the Federal Ministry of water Resources, Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Ministry of Environment and their agencies are collaborating on a comprehensive national standards and permissible limits”.
While highlighting the survival, nutritional and health value of water, he added that water could be a source of danger and ill health if not properly sourced, treated, stored, used and disposed when used both in domestic and industrial environment.
“Water resources management is vital for many reasons which include the fact that water quality control is an element of the organizations quality assurance system as the quality of water used in production will ultimately affect the quality of the end products. Moreover, when the standards of drinking water quality are low the workers’ health is jeopardized leading to illnesses, absenteeism and low productivity. In extreme cases water borne diseases are linked to proctrated illnesses and even death” he remarked.
“Water and waste water safety plan, water quality data management and the monitoring of effluent standards should not be left for the public health and environmental officials alone. All of us should comply with the laws and regulations and work with the appropriate parameters” he added.
He urged the participants to go back to their organizations and improve the standards to ensure cleaner and safer production processes as well as to take it upon themselves to be advocates of sustainable environment.
