Three Public Health students from the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Hephzibah Michael, Hadiza Aliyu, and Amina Usman, examined how municipal water is treated and tested for safety during an educational visit to the Yola Water Treatment Plant in Jimeta, Adamawa State, on Friday, October 16, 2026.
The visit connected classroom instruction with practical environmental health applications, giving the students firsthand insight into the role of water treatment in protecting communities from waterborne diseases.
Guided through the facility, the students followed the treatment process, from raw water extraction at River Bwaramji through screening, chemical treatment, filtration, and final disinfection. They learned how alum helps suspended particles clump together for removal and how chlorine eliminates harmful microorganisms during disinfection.
In the quality-control laboratory, the students examined analytical instruments, including turbidity meters, microscopes, and spectrophotometers. Technical staff explained how laboratory tests and routine monitoring help determine appropriate chemical dosages and assess water quality before distribution.
George Ndubuisi Ani, an instructor in AUN’s Department of Public Health, highlighted the value of practical experience in helping students apply classroom knowledge. “Practical field visits give students the opportunity to see how the knowledge they acquire in the classroom is applied in real-life situations. This experience helps them better understand the importance of water quality and its role in protecting public health,” Ani said.
Reported by Jummai Paul