Evaluation of Water Treatment Chemicals Supply Chain and Quality Control Practices by State Water Boards in South South Nigeria

Effective water treatment depends critically on the consistent supply and quality of treatment chemicals including coagulants, disinfectants, and pH adjustment agents. This study evaluates the supply chain management and quality control practices for water treatment chemicals used by state water boards in Delta, Edo, and Rivers States in South South Nigeria. A structured assessment was conducted through interviews with water board procurement officers, chemical store managers, and treatment plant operators, supplemented by physical inspection of chemical inventories and storage facilities. Samples of chlorine-based disinfectants, aluminium sulphate, and lime from current stock were collected from three treatment plants and analysed for purity and concentration against manufacturer specifications and WHO Chemicals for Water Treatment requirements. Findings indicate that supply chain disruptions, caused by currency fluctuation, import dependency, and limited pre-qualification of chemical suppliers, result in treatment gaps of four to twelve weeks annually across the assessed utilities. Laboratory analysis revealed that 35 percent of sampled aluminium sulphate batches had aluminium content below declared specifications. Chlorine demand tests on disinfectants showed degradation in stored batches, attributable to high ambient temperature storage. The study recommends the establishment of a regional chemical procurement cooperative among South South water utilities, mandatory incoming chemical quality testing, and adoption of locally producible coagulant alternatives such as ferric sulphate to reduce import dependency. Keywords: water treatment chemicals, supply chain, quality control, water boards, South South Nigeria