VOlUME 05 ISSUE 04 APRIL 2022
1Gbarabe, F.O., 2Weje,I.I., 3Dapa, I.N
1,2,3Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT
One of challenges facing urban mangers especially in the developing countries deals with their inability to meet the water needs of the ever increasing population of its urban dwellers. The present study examined the challenges militating against effective water delivery to residents among public water supply agencies in Port Harcourt municipality. The non-probability sampling technique was used to select five (5) out of the twenty (20) neighborhoods in the study area. This sampling strategy ensured the deliberate inclusion of the planned areas of the municipality (Main Town, Diobu (Miles 1, 2 and 3), and Oromineke Layout, which are expected to still bear the footprint of past (colonial) planning for water delivery, and at least one of the old indigenous enclaves now being transformed into modern residential neighborhoods.Finding revealed that the challenges of public water supply in Port Harcourt municipality is not due to the absence of institutional framework, but low investment towards water infrastructural development, a situation that has led to dilapidation of existing water facilities in the municipality.Among the challenges militating the provision of water by public water supply agenciesin Port Harcourt include: inadequate investment/funding , vandalism /encroachment on water rights –of- way , and lack of political will. Others are Indiscriminate sitting of water projects , Lack of state owned laboratory for water testing, and issues relating to sustainability
The study advocates for the revamping of the water supply schemes in the area by ensuring collaboration between and among public water agencies in the area so as to achieve sustainability in water delivery through the tenets of cost recovery strategies that will in-turn promote socio-economic development for not just the municipality but the state.
KEYWORDS:water supply; cost recovery; water needs; socio-economic development; water safety
REFERENCES
1) Abbey, M. E., and Onyebueke, D. E. (2020). Geoelectric evaluation of groundwater potential: a case study of Omuma Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 10(8), 3255-3261.
2) Adah, P.D. and Abok, G. (2013). Challenges of urban water management in Nigeria: The way forward. Journal of Environmental Science and Resource Management: 5(1), 111-122.
3) Agbora, B. and Weje, I.I. (2019). Urban Sprawl: An Analysis of Urban Expansion In Bori Area- A Geographic Information System Approach. International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and Technology. Vol. 4, Issue 3, Pp 507-514. Available at : http://www.ijeast.com
4) Balogun, I.I; Sojobi, A.O. andGakeye, E. (2017). Public water supply in Lagos State, Nigeria; Review of Importance and challenges, status and concerns and pragmatic solutions. Cogent Engineering: 22(2), 1-21.
5) Bos R, Alves D, Latorre C, Macleod N, Payen G, Roaf V, and Rouse M. (2016); Manual on the Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation for Practitioners. London, UK: IWA Publishing.
6) Chikagbum, W., Brown, I., and Weje, I. I. (2020). Challenges of private provision of potable water in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and its Socio-economic implications. Int. J Hydro, 4(5), 182-189.
7) Clasen, T. F. and A. Bastable (2003), ‘Faecal contamination of drinking water during collection and household storage: The need to extend protection to the point of use’. Journal of Water and Health 1(3), 109–115.
8) Davis, J., H. Lukacs, M. Jeuland, A. Alvestegui, and B. Sotto (2008), ‘Sustaining the benefits of rural water supply investments: Experience from Cochabamba and Chuquisaca, Bolivia’. Water Resources Research Vol.44(12)
9) De Albuquerque, C., andRoaf, V. (2012). On the right track. Good practices in realising the rights to water and sanitation. Lisbon: ERSAR. Available at http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Water/BookonGoodPractices_en.pdf. Accessed 19 Sept 2021
10) Edokpayi, J. N., Rogawski, E. T., Kahler, D. M., Hill, C. L., Reynolds, C., Nyathi, E., ... and Dillingham.R (2018). Challenges to sustainable safe drinking water: a case study of water quality and use across seasons in rural communities in Limpopo province,South-Africa.Water, 10(2),159.
11) FGN (2000). National Water Supply and Sanitation Policy. Department of Water Supply and QualityControl, Federal Ministry of Water Resources. Federal Republic of Nigeria.
12) Fogden J, and Wood G., (2009), Access to safe drinking water and its impact on global economic growth. HaloSource, p1-6.
13) Kakulu, I. I., andMafuta. (2011). Water and sanitation in Port Harcourt. Green hills, blue Cities: An ecosystems approach to water resources management for African cities. A rapid response assessment. UNEP, UN Habitat & GRID-Arendal.
14) Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development. (2012). Rivers State Water Policy. Rivers State Government, Print Master Nig.Ltd.
15) Okon, I., andNjoku, C.G., (2017). Evaluation of domestic access to pipe-borne water in Calabar metropolis, Southern Nigeria. Open Access Libr. J. 4, e3924 https://doi.org/.
16) Omotomilola, T.I (2018).Resilience of Socio-Ecological Systems: Are Water Vendors, an indicationof Socio-Ecological Resilience in the Nigerian Water Sector? Unpublished Msc dissertation submitted to the Department Geographical and Historical Studies,University of Eastern Finland
17) Panwar, A. M., and Antil, M. S. (2015). Issues, challenges and prospects of water supply in urban India. IOSR Journal of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Vol.20,2.www.iosrjournal.org
18) Perry, C., M. Rock, and DSeckler (1997), Water as an economic good: a solution or a problem?IWMI Research Report 14. IWMI, Colombo.
19) Pettinger, L. (2019). What’s wrong with work?Policy Press. 230pp Bristol, England:
20) Roy, S., and Dutta, S. (2017). Opportunities and Challenges for Promoting Sustainable Water Services to the Urban Poor in Dhaka City. Journal of Environmental Science and Natural Resources, 10(2), 1-10.
21) Special Konsult (1975); Port Harcourt Master Plan: Final Report, Ministry of Lands and Housing, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
22) UN. (2011). The human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. United Nations General Assembly, A/HRC/18/L.1, 23 Sept 2011.
23) Van Steen, P. J., and Pellenbarg, P. H. (2004). Water management challenges in the Netherlands. Tijdschriftvoo EconomischeenSocialeGeografie, 95(5), 590-599.
24) World Health Organisation. (2006). WHO guidelines for the use of waste water excreta and grey water .Vol.1. World Health Organisation.
25) World Health Organization, and UNICEF (2008); WHO/UNICEF Joint Water Supply, Sanitation Monitoring Programme, Progress on drinking water and sanitation: Special focus on sanitation. World Health Organization.