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AN EVALUATION OF THE PROBLEMS OF WATER SUPPLY IN LAGOS STATE

ABSTRACT

The challenges faced in public water supply in most cities and developing countries are increasing population size, poor operational efficiency of existing waterworks, leakages, low reticulation coverage and poor cost-recovery. Our study revealed variation in the public water-supply-demand gap estimates under low, middle and high population growth rate scenarios. Under a largely urbanized evolution of the LGAs, Lagos State faces an imminent critical water shortage if pragmatic steps are not taken to bridge the public water supply-demand gap. Pragmatic solutions recommended include strategic planning and implementation of new waterworks, improved operational efficiency of existing waterworks, improved reticulation and appropriate cost-recovery.

1. Introduction

1.1. Importance of public water supply systems

Strategic management and provision of sustainable public water supply is essential and crucial for the future of the world’s economy, economic and industrial development, protection and improvement of public health, improving the quality and standard of living, ecosystem preservation as well as poverty alleviation and eradication especially in developing countries (Bartram & Cairncross, 2010; Biswas, 2008; Huttly et al., 1990; McDonald et al., 2014; Saravanan & Gondhalekar, 2013).

Most developed and developing countries are at risk of severe water shortages in the 21st century if urgent steps are not taken (Mitrica, Mitrica, Enciu, & Mocanu, 2017). This is because water supply poses a huge challenge to most urban, peri-urban and rural areas in developing countries (Balogun, Sojobi, & Oyedepo, 2016; Sojobi, Danhunsi, & Afolayan, 2015; Sojobi, Owamah, & Dahunsi, 2014). Though these challenges are enormous, with pragmatic steps, they are surmountable.

Public water supply accounts for 90% of water supply in middle and low-income countries (Hall & Lobina, 2006) and serves domestic, institutional, industrial and commercial functions while domestic water supply represents between 50–70% of public water supply (Ayanshola, Sule, & Salami, 2013; Lu & Smout, 2008).

Improvement in water supply contributes to health equity by reducing the link between poverty and disease (Bartram & Cairncross, 2010), prevents approximately 2.4 million deaths annually and averts approximately 7% of global burden of diseases and 19% of child mortality worldwide (Pruss-Ustun, Bos, Gore, & Bartram, 2008).

Furthermore, provision of public water supply leads to 3.6% increase in per capita GDP growth along with improved sanitation (Sanctuary, Tropp, & Haller, 2004), contributes to socio-economic development and well-being (Ayanshola et al., 2013), increases school attendance as a result of reduction of water-borne diseases (Kosec, 2014) and is one of the indices of development (Hutton & Haller, 2004).

In terms of cost, public water sources are 4–10 times cheaper compared to private sources (Jideonwo, 2014) while private water sources cost twice the amount to operate and maintain costs of a piped distribution system (Whittington, Lauria, & Mu, 1991). Despite its cheapness, approximately 1.2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water in developing countries owing to lack of effective large scale water-supply infrastructures (Gadgil, 2008).

Worldwide, it is estimated that the global cost of meeting the millennium development goal (MDG) target for water and sanitation ranges from US$ 6.6–75 billion per annum (UN-Water, 2008) while the health costs to households and national health systems, as a result of inadequate water supply, is estimated at US$ 340 million and US $67 billion (Hutton & Haller, 2004). In addition, approximately 9% of GDP is the cost of inadequate water supply (Bartram & Cairncross, 2010).

Consistent and apparent shortfalls in public water supply have forced many households to resort to unwholesome water sources that are not potable. Most studies on public water supply neglect water losses and do not consider different population growth rates as well as different water consumption rates. Failure to account for these important factors may lead to over-estimation or under-estimation of the real situation, which can be misleading to policy makers. Inclusion of the aforementioned factors will ensure robust decisions are made regarding public water supply towards achieving resilient public water supply systems.

This research, which is the first of its kind, therefore intends to ascertain the root cause(s) of the problem and proffer measures to ameliorate this problem using available data and in-depth literature studies.

1.2. Challenges facing public water utilities and public water supply systems

The challenges of public water utilities and public water supply systems have technical, social, economic, legal, institutional and environmental dimensions (Jideonwo, 2014; Sojobi, 2016). According to Varis (2006), some of the challenges include increasing urbanization rate, inadequate investment funds, inadequate management capacities and poor governance, inappropriate institutional frameworks, inadequate legal and regulatory framework.

Other challenges faced by public water supply systems include data collection, availability and accuracy, inadequate financial resources for effective operations, lack of skilled technical personnels, urbanization and unsustainable water consumption practices, lack monitoring of water quality, health outcomes and economic returns, bacteriological contamination during distribution and storage, poor water quality, poor governance and stakeholder engagement and migration, technical inefficiencies and unreliability, over-dependence on government for finance (Abubakar, 2016; Adnan, 2013; Adnan & Iqbal, 2014; Cohen, 2006; Haider, Sadiq, & Tesfamariam, 2014; Saravanan & Gondhalekar, 2013; See, 2015; World Bank, 2007; Zérah, 2000).

On the other hand, Cohen (2006) opined that these challenges are solvable using scientific and engineering expertise with good management.

Therefore, this study aims to investigate the public-water-demand-supply shortfall, ascertain the root causes and proffer pragmatic solutions.

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