Environmental Defense: Reconciling Indigenous Sensory Metrics with Laboratory Standards in Coastal Communities of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

Coastal communities in the Niger Delta, including those in Akwa Ibom State, face an escalating water security crisis driven by climate-induced saltwater intrusion and industrial environmental pressures. While conventional water management relies exclusively on laboratory metrics, this research pioneers an interdisciplinary approach by documenting and validating indigenous water quality indicators. Using a phenomenological qualitative design, the study explores the sensory perceptions of coastal residents in Akwa Ibom State, focusing on taste thresholds, lathering capacity, and food discoloration as diagnostic tools. Using 8 shoreline communities, a total of 360 participants were selected for in-depth engagement at various communities. Findings reveal a significant perceptual chemical gap: community undrinkability thresholds for sodium reach 200 mg/L, nearly four times higher than World Health Organization (WHO) aesthetic guidelines. This physiological adaptation masks a severe “poverty trap,” where vulnerable households spend up to 25% of their daily income on sachet water to avoid the physical and financial stressors of saline groundwater. The study synthesizes these data into an integrated water quality perception framework, which aligns technical salinity standards with indigenous sensory metrics. This research concludes that technical water interventions often fail due to a lack of sensory alignment with local expectations. By institutionalizing community-led “Green Squad” monitoring and adopting sensory acceptance protocols, policymakers can ensure higher project sustainability. This work provides a scalable model for decolonizing water science and enhancing climate resilience in marginalized coastal environments globally.