IS COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION THE SURESTWAY OF INCREASING HOUSEHOLD ACCESS TO WATER SUPPLY IN NIGERIA RURAL COMMUNITIES?

Public water supply in Nigeria began some 60 years ago. However, most rural communities do not have access to safe water supply. Lack of access to safe water supply is precursor to water related diseases. Given the fact that publicly operated water supply has not met the increasing demand, there is need for community members to be involved in their water supplies. Community participation has been identified as the key to the success of any form of development. It conveys the feelings of ownership and builds a strong base for government intervention in many societies. Community participation will ensure that that the intervention will have more credibility in all segments of the community because it was planned by a group representing them. About 80% of rural households in northeastern Nigeria do not have access to improved water supply. They rely solely on self water supply from rivers, ephemeral streams, unprotected water ponds and hand dug wells which are susceptible to waterborne diseases and drought. These rural populations are engaged in farming activities with low level of income living in small scattered settlements, making provision of piped water very difficult. Government interventions through the provision of hand-operated boreholes and wells yield little or no water during the dry seasons and are prone to frequent breakdowns. A study of rural households in six villages in northeastern Nigeria was carried out. With 50 respondents from each community, a total of 300 households were randomly selected. Findings revealed that rainfall values ranged from 860 to1,065mm; average water consumption per capita in the region was 30 l/p/d; and average household sizes 5 persons. Water storage facilities and seasonality of rainfall are some of the greatest obstacles for effective community participation.