Assessment of Wastewater Management Infrastructure in University Student Hostels in Zaria, Kaduna State

Wastewater management in university student hostels is a critical environmental health infrastructure concern, directly affecting the health of thousands of young adults and the environmental quality of the surrounding communities. This study assesses the wastewater management infrastructure in student hostels at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, focusing on sanitary facility provision, sewage disposal system type and condition, drainage infrastructure adequacy, and environmental compliance status. Physical audits were conducted in fifteen student hostel blocks across male and female halls of residence, recording toilet and bathroom provision ratios per occupant, septic tank and soakaway conditions, external drain conditions, and evidence of sewage overflow or environmental contamination. Interviews were conducted with fifty students regarding hygiene and facility condition perceptions, supplemented by facility management officer interviews. Water quality tests were conducted on groundwater samples from six boreholes within one hundred metres of major septic installations to test for faecal coliform contamination. Results indicate a mean toilet provision of one per thirty-four students, far exceeding the recommended maximum of one per eight occupants. Fourteen of fifteen hostel blocks showed evidence of septic tank overflow, with surface sewage evident during site visits at eleven. Groundwater coliform testing confirmed faecal contamination in four of six tested boreholes, indicating septic system failure. The study recommends an immediate emergency infrastructure programme for ABU student hostels, prioritising desludging, resin-lining repair of failed tanks, and expansion of sanitary cell provision, as a matter of urgent environmental health priority. Keywords: wastewater management, student hostels, Ahmadu Bello University, environmental health, sanitation infrastructure.