Integrating Moringa oleifera, Activated Charcoal, and Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS) for Improved Drinking Water Quality in Rural Communities of Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Access to safe drinking water remains a major challenge in many rural communities of Nigeria due to contamination by heavy metals and pathogenic microorganisms. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an integrated household water treatment system comprising Moringa oleifera seed powder, coconut shell activated carbon, and solar water disinfection (SODIS) for improving water quality in selected rural communities in Kogi State, Nigeria. Water samples collected from wells, boreholes, and river sources were treated with 1 g/L and 2 g/L M. oleifera seed suspensions, followed by activated carbon filtration and solar disinfection. Heavy metals (Cu, Pb, and Zn), physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, salinity, and total dissolved solids), and microbiological indicators (total coliform and Escherichia coli) were determined using standard analytical methods. The integrated treatment significantly (P < 0.05) improved water quality by reducing heavy metal concentrations, salinity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and bacterial counts, while increasing pH to values within the recommended range. The 2 g/L treatment consistently achieved greater contaminant removal than the 1 g/L treatment across all sampling locations. Overall, the integrated M. oleifera–activated carbon–SODIS system represents a simple, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable approach for improving drinking water quality in rural communities with limited access to conventional water treatment facilities.