Water Discharge Guidelines and Standards

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Upholding Water Quality to Protect Ecosystems, Wildlife, and Human Health

At Redeemer’s University, Ede, environmental stewardship is a key pillar of its operations and research mandate. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water), the university has developed and implemented internal Water Quality Standards and Discharge Guidelines to safeguard aquatic ecosystems, wildlife, and public health. These measures ensure that all water discharges within and around the campus environment meet acceptable environmental and safety thresholds.



Purpose and Commitment

The purpose of Redeemer’s University’s water discharge guidelines is to promote sustainable water management practices that prevent contamination, protect biodiversity, and uphold the integrity of local aquatic systems. The university is committed to ensuring that all wastewater and laboratory effluents are treated, monitored, and discharged responsibly, in accordance with national environmental regulations and World Health Organization (WHO) standards.



Research-Based Water Quality Standards

The establishment of these guidelines is grounded in extensive research conducted through the Africa Centre of Excellence for Water and Environmental Research (ACEWATER) and the university’s Department of Biological Sciences.

  1. Studies such as Occurrence Profiling and Risk Assessment of Antimicrobials in Surface and Groundwater Systems in Southwest Nigeria (2024) and Toxicity and Removal of Parabens from Water (2022) have provided data-driven insights into water contamination and safe treatment levels.
  2. Ongoing monitoring of local surface and groundwater quality by ACEWATER research teams supports continuous improvement of internal discharge limits and testing protocols.
  3. Collaborative research with industrial partners also explores innovative wastewater treatment technologies, including nutrient recovery and zero-waste aquaculture systems.


Implementation and Oversight

Redeemer’s University’s Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Unit, in collaboration with ACEWATER, oversees:

  1. The routine testing and quality assurance of water discharged from laboratories and campus facilities.
  2. Risk assessments to identify and mitigate pollutants that may impact soil, surface water, and groundwater quality.
  3. Training and awareness programmes for staff and students on responsible waste and water management.

In addition, laboratories are required to pre-treat effluents before discharge into the environment, using standardized procedures that minimize chemical and biological contaminants.



Community and Environmental Impact

Beyond campus boundaries, Redeemer’s University plays a leadership role in promoting clean water practices through community education, outreach programmes, and publicly available research outputs. Through ACEWATER’s initiatives, rural and peri-urban communities are trained on water purification techniques, safe irrigation practices, and the prevention of groundwater contamination, thereby extending the impact of the university’s water quality standards to the broader region.

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