Water Service Provision in Owerri City, Nigeria
Affiliation(s)
Department of Geography & Environmental Management, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. Department of Urban & Regional Planning, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.
Department of Geography & Environmental Management, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. Department of Urban & Regional Planning, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
The study investigates water service provision in Owerri-a Nigerian city. For the study both primary and secondary data were obtained and analysed. Secondary data were obtained from Imo State Water Corporation (ISWC) and the Works Department of Owerri Municipal Council. While, primary data were obtained from all the 17 wards that constitute Owerri city, i.e. the municipal area. Key informants were identified and interviewed using a structured interview schedule. The analysis of variance employed showed that there are significant differences in the water service provision pattern in the seventeen wards in Owerri city. The study found that though most residents of Owerri city rely heavily on commercial borehole owners and water tanker drivers/water peddlers for their daily supplies, the government through its SWA is in control, and there is an absence of a popularly acceptable regulatory framework/water policy. It recommends that Water decree 101 from 1993 (water legislation) be reviewed to address growing challenges. In order to enhance regular water supply at less cost, the study recommends that government should collaborate with the private sector and other community based organizations in a tripartite partnership. A new regulatory framework that will carry out government ownership and control of water resources and participatory aspects of water management should be produced by ISWC.
The study investigates water service provision in Owerri-a Nigerian city. For the study both primary and secondary data were obtained and analysed. Secondary data were obtained from Imo State Water Corporation (ISWC) and the Works Department of Owerri Municipal Council. While, primary data were obtained from all the 17 wards that constitute Owerri city, i.e. the municipal area. Key informants were identified and interviewed using a structured interview schedule. The analysis of variance employed showed that there are significant differences in the water service provision pattern in the seventeen wards in Owerri city. The study found that though most residents of Owerri city rely heavily on commercial borehole owners and water tanker drivers/water peddlers for their daily supplies, the government through its SWA is in control, and there is an absence of a popularly acceptable regulatory framework/water policy. It recommends that Water decree 101 from 1993 (water legislation) be reviewed to address growing challenges. In order to enhance regular water supply at less cost, the study recommends that government should collaborate with the private sector and other community based organizations in a tripartite partnership. A new regulatory framework that will carry out government ownership and control of water resources and participatory aspects of water management should be produced by ISWC.
Cite this paper
E. Onyenechere and S. Osuji, "Water Service Provision in Owerri City, Nigeria," Journal of Water Resource and Protection, Vol. 4 No. 7, 2012, pp. 497-506. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2012.47058.
E. Onyenechere and S. Osuji, "Water Service Provision in Owerri City, Nigeria," Journal of Water Resource and Protection, Vol. 4 No. 7, 2012, pp. 497-506. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2012.47058.
References
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[1] M. A. Hanjra, T. Ferede and D. G. Gutta, “Reducing Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa through Investments in Water and Other Priorities,” Agricultural Water Management, Vol. 96, No. 7, 2009, pp. 1062-1170. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2009.03.001 [2] P. Gleick, “Basic Requirements for Human Activities: Meeting Basic Needs,” International Water, Vol. 21, No. 2, 1996, pp. 83-92. [3] United Nations/World Water Assessment Programme (UN/WWAP), “Water for People, Water for Life,” 2003, Accessed 27 October 2011. http://unesdocunesco.org/images/0012/001295/129556e.pdf [4] A. M. MacDonald, “Developing Groundwater: A Guide for Rural Water Supply,” ITDG Publishing, New York, 2005. [5] World Health Organization (WHO), “Water Recreation and Diseases,” IWA Publishing, London, 2005. [6] Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR), “National Water Supply and Sanitation Policy Document,” Abuja, 2000. [7] A. Ariyo and A. Jerome, “Utility Privatization and the Poor: Nigeria in Focus,” Global Issue Papers for Heinrich Boll Stiftung, No. 12, June 2004. [8] D. Whittington, D. T. Lauria, D. A. Okun and X. Mu, “Water Vending Activities in Developing Countries,” International Journal of Water Resource Development, Vol. 5, No. 3, 1989, pp. 158-168. [9] J. Budds and G. McGranahan, “Privatization Missing the Point? Experiences from Africa, Asia and Latin America,” Environment and Urbanization, Vol. 15, No. 2, 2003, pp. 87-113. [10] K. Bakker, “Archipelagos and Networks: Urbanisation and Water Privatization in the South,” The Geography Journal, Vol. 169, No. 4, 2003, pp. 328-341. doi:10.1111/j.0016-7398.2003.00097.x [11] K. J. Bakker, “Privatizing Water: Governance Failure and the World’s Urban Water Crisis,” Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 2010. [12] A.O. K’Akumu and P.O. Appida, “Privatization of Urban Water Service Provision: The Kenyan Experiment,” Water Policy, Vol. 8, No. 4, 2006, pp. 313-324. doi:10.2166/wp.2006.044 [13] S. Banerjee, H. Skilling, V. Forster, C. Briceno-Garmendia, E. Morella and T. Chfadi, “Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic: Urban Water Supply in Sub-Saharan Africa,” Report by the World Bank and the Water and Sanitation Programme, Washington DC, 2008. [14] T. Thomas, “Domestic Water Supply Using Rainwater Harvesting,” Building Research and Information, Vol. 2, No. 2, 1998, pp. 94-101. doi:10.1080/096132198370010 [15] J.D. Njoku and A. Ubuoh, “Quality of Rainwater in Storage Tanks in Selected Locations in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State,” In: U. M. Igbozurike, M. A. Ijioma and E. C. Onyenechere, Eds., Rural Water Supply in Nigeria, Cape Publishers, Owerri, 2010, pp. 175-183. [16] S. Shofuyi, “Study X-rays Poor Quality of ‘Pure Water’ in Nigeria,” The Punch, No. 4, February 2003. [17] Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), National Water Policy Document, Abuja, Nigeria, 2004. [18] W. Hadipuro and N.Y. Indriyanti, “Typical Urban Water Supply Provision in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Semarang City, Indonesia,” Water Policy, Vol. 11, No. 1, 2009, pp. 55-66. doi:10.2166/wp.2009.008 [19] J.J. Burke and M.H. Moench, “Groundwater and Society: Resources, Tensions and Opportunities,” United Nations Publication, New York, 2000. [20] World Bank, “Project Assessment Report: Nigeria,” No. 36443, World Bank, Washington DC, 2005. [21] M. Goldman, “Imperial Nature: The World Bank and Struggles for Social Justice in the Age of Globalization,” Yale University Press, London, 2005. [22] E. N. Iwuala, “Imo Water Corporation and the Rescue Mission Agenda,” Imo Trumpeta, No. 5, 7 February 2012. [23] O. Adeoti, “Challenges to Managing Water Resources along the Hydrological Boundaries in Nigeria,” Water Policy, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2007, pp. 105-118. doi:10.2166/wp.2006.002 [24] Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), “Nigeria’s Development Prospects: Poverty Assessment and Alleviation Study,” CBN, Lagos, 1999.