HOUSEHOLD WATER ACCESS AND CHALLENGES OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY IN IBADAN METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study is centred on exploring household water accessibility and challenges of the public water supply system in the Ibadan metropolis. Using qualitative method of data collection, the study elicited information from the Water Corporation of Oyo State, Nigeria Meteorological Agency and Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, as well as the relevant stakeholders in selected communities of Ibadan North and Ibadan South-East Local Government Areas. Findings suggested that climate change does not significantly affect water availability in dams. The research areas primarily utilize precipitation, boreholes, and wells as primary water sources, indicating that communities lack access to any public or government water source. Water Corporation faces challenges in providing public water due to intermittent power supplies, poor government funding, and high raw material costs. Other challenges include road construction, population growth, overuse of facilities, vandalism, poor pipeline maintenance, government policies, public ignorance, lack of structural plans, and rusting pipes. The paper concluded that the government should investigate the water corporation and identify community water provision issues. Monitoring the corporation's affairs to ensure the availability of necessary equipment and materials, project implementation, continuity, and sustainability. Key Words: household, potable water, accessibility, public, supply system   1Department of Geography, Faculty of The Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, Nigeria 2 Department of Sociology Faculty of The Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, Nigeria/Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. yakanle@yahoo.com 3Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Toronto, Canada 4 Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Management , University of Ibadan, Nigeria 5 Department of Sociology Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Nigeria