AN ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF ROOFING SHEETS ON HARVESTED WATER RUNOFF

ABSTRACT

Harvested water run-off from five different houses with stone coated roof were sampled in Ichida, Anambra state for the effect of the roof on the harvested water. The pH and metal content of the harvested water run-off were analyzed. The result of the analysis where compared with the World Health Organization standard. The results showed that the pH ranged from 6.4 – 7.2 and the concentration of the heavy metals for lead range from 0.143 –­­ 0.244, for copper 0.011– 0.066, for aluminum range from 0.00 – 0.085, for silicon range from 0.0191 – 0.748, for iron rage from 0.033 – 0.122, for zinc range from 0.323 – 0.665 and for chromium range from 0.108 – 0.213. it was observed that all the lead, silicon content of all the 5 houses and aluminum content of house 2 and 5 were above the WHO standard, whereas others were all below the WHO standard. Harvested water run- off is hazardous to health.