Public Water Supply Challenges in Semi-Urban Katsina State, Nigeria: Evidence From Household Survey Data

This study investigates the status of public water supply services in selected semi-urban towns of Katsina State. A survey data from 400 randomly selected households across Batagarawa, Charanci, Dutsinma, Kankia and Kurfi was analysed using descriptive statistics. The results show that Public boreholes 38% was the major sources of public water supply. Again, close to half of the respondents 47% reported lack of access to any form of public water supply service. Moreover, significant number 59% of respondents relied on private water vendors as a coping mechanism against inadequate public water supply. Additionally, respondents spent an average of ₦870 monthly and ₦4,620 in the last six months prior to the survey for water treatment and water-borne disease cure respectively. Finally, respondents faces overall 11.8% water supply-demand gap. These findings reveal a clear picture of water supply challenges and stress that extends beyond mere access to encompass issues of quantity, quality, reliability, public water supply deficit and significant human and economic burdens. The evidence, point to the need for public water supply improvement intervention in the studied towns. Therefore, fast-tracking the execution and implementation of Zobe Dam phase II project by the Katsina State government is recommended.