Analysis of Water Supply, Demand and Distribution in Okene Town, Kogi State, Nigeria

Water is one of the most valuable natural resources for existence of any form of life. This study investigates the sources of water supply and distribution in Okene Town, Kogi State. To this end, data on various aspect of water supply such as sources of water, frequency of supply and uses of water were collected. The random sampling technique was used to select a total of 120 households for the survey to generate data which were analyzed in descriptive and inferential statistics and presented in tables, graphs and charts while the Chi square analytical technique was employed in testing the postulated hypothesis guiding this work and concludes that there is no significant variation in water supply in Okene Town. The Economic Approach as well as The Impact Analysis Approach were used in the analysis demand, supply and consumption of water by households. The findings from this work shows that most respondent within the study area get their water from pipe borne source, after moving a distance of between 20- 40 meters and employ the water to domestic uses. Households are faced with a number of domestic water supply problems including irregular water supply, long distance from water supply source, inadequate coverage of pipe distribution networks and inadequate fund to procure water such problems were tackled by provision of street boreholes, street wells, rain harvesting systems and provision of long lasting water project such dams and tap by Plateau State Water board. It was recommended that, government should make and execute policies that are targeted towards providing sufficient sources of water supply and distribution for the residents of Okene Town. People should adopt a self-help approach to solve the problems of water supply for domestic purposes, much can be achieved where the community unite together and involve in self-help projects.