The Pattern and Factors of Residential Water Supply In Ankpa Town, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Ankpa town in Kogi State experiences scarcity of water supply and the use of pipe borne water is absent in most parts the town. The town’s waterworks even when functional covers only one-third of the residents due to inadequate distribution network. The boreholes are few and costly and these ground water resources are also affected by the unreliability and seasonality of the precipitation and geology. This study examines the pattern and factors of water supply for residential use in Ankpa urban area. The primary data was collected from questionnaire and interviews on households and observations and secondary data from existing records in Ankpa town. Results indicate that Ankpa town needs about 24,179 litres per household (LPH) daily as against the mean household water supply of 19,329 LPH, indicating a mean deficiency of 5,850 LPH (24%). An analysis of the 19 determinant variables summarized the scenario into six factor components that account for the variation in residential water supply in Ankpa town. The factors are defined mainly around: i) high cost of public water supply in the town, ii) availability of household water storage facilities, iii) presence or absence of alternative water supply sources in the neighborhood, iv) functionality of water supply facilities in neighborhoods, v) presence of manpower for water facility maintenance and vi) accessibility to available water supply sources in neighborhoods. These factors cumulatively explain about 82% of the prevailing household water supply pattern in Ankpa town. The study therefore recommends that the urban community should be trained to manage breakdown in water equipment. The government should make efforts to improve water supply in Ankpa town by increasing funding to boost the distribution network of the public water system to neighborhoods not covered under the existing scheme. Also proper treatment of alternative water sources should be practiced at household level to improve quality of water consumed and reduce incidence of water related diseases, and the households should practice safe water storage in-between supplies for domestic use.

Keywords: Determinants, Pattern, Household, Water Supply, Residential, Ankpa.