Umeakuka J. Maurice(BURP, MURP, PGD, LLB, Ph.D, FNITP, RTP)
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Nigeria
Corresponding Author’s email: umeakukamaurice@yahoo.com
Abstract
Water is a major source of life. However, people have been diagnosed of various waterborne related diseases due to lack of or low access to potable drinking water in their area of residence. Studies abound that looked into provision of drinkable water, but none to my knowledge has looked into water accessibility in Anambra State hitherto. To cover this gap, this study looks at water provision in the various neighbourhoods of Awka, the capital city of Anambra State of Nigeria. The aim is to evaluate the level of water accessibility in line with the globally recommended best practices, and also in line with sixth target of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The objectives of the study are fivefold:(a) ascertain the sources of water available to the residents of the various neighbourhoods; (b) determine the time in minute spent by the residents of the various neighbourhoods to access water from a facility; (c) ascertain the distance travelled by the residents of the various neighbourhoods to fetch water at the nearest facility, (d) ascertain the quantity of water consumed by the residents of the various neighbourhoods of the study area; and (e) recommend institutional arrangement needed to improve water supply in the study area. The methodology adopted to achieve the stated objectives was the administration of questionnaires to 10% of the households in 10 neighbourhoods chosen from both formal and informal settlements. In all, 533 households were sampled. The data obtained were analysed using tables, percentages and charts. The results of the variables examined showed a remarkable improvement in water provision within the city as over 80% of the respondents reported sourcing water from sources considered to be safe. The result also showed that the residents have good collection time as 90% reported collecting water within the globally recommended timeline. On distance travelled to collect water and the quantity of water consumed per capita per day, the result showed that 96% of the respondents travelled less than one kilometre, which is globally acceptable, to access water, while 92% of the respondents reported consuming water at the level of service considered to be safe. Overall, the study holds that water accessibility in the neighbourhoods of the study area is in line with what the WHO (2003) considers to be good access. The study discovers that the various player (mainly non-sate actors) who contribute to water provision in the city lack coordination as the state water board whose duty it is to provide the roadmap at policy and operational levels appears not to be living up to its responsibility
REFERENCES
Diaz-Caravantes, R E, A Zuniga-Teran, F Martin, M Bernabeu, P Stoker and C Scott (2020), “Urban water security: a comparative study of cities in the arid Americas”, Environment and Urbanization Vol 32, No 1, pages 275-294.
Gupta, J (2004), “Water Law and Governance”, Newsletter of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change. Web publication cited in February, 2006, www.IHDP.org.
Iloeje, N P (1980), A New Geography of Nigeria, Longman Publishers, Enugu.
Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development(MIWD)(2006) “Annual report for 2006/07 financial year, Regional Water Development Office (North), Mzuzu” (Unpublished report).
Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning (2008), “Draft Final Structure Plan Report for Onitsha”, Anambra State Structure Plan Project, Awka.
Nastiti, A, B S Muntalif, D Roomsmini, A Sudradjat, S V Meijerink and A J M Smits (2017), “Coping with poor water supply in peri-urban Bandung, Indonesia: towards a framework for understanding risks aversion behaviours”, Environment and Urbanization Vol 29, No 1, pages 69-88.
NPC (2008),National Demographic and Health Survey,Abuja, Nigeria.
NPC(2006),National Population and Housing Census, Abuja, Nigeria.
NISER (1988), Socioeconomic Survey of Ibadan City, report of a survey commissioned by the Ibadan Metropolitan Planning Authority (IMPA).
Ofomata, G E K (Ed) (1975), Nigeria in Maps: Eastern States.
UNDP (2002),In Human Development Report, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 268.
WaterAid (2008), Water and Sanitation and the PRSP discussion paper, (www.wateraid.org.uk;13 July).
Full Paper