Assessment of the Determinants of Domestic Water Supply Scarcity in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the determinants of domestic water supply scarcity in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The study was motivated by persistent challenges associated with inadequate, irregular and restricted access to domestic water among households in the study area. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from 311 respondents using a structured questionnaire, complemented by field observations of selected wells and boreholes. Descriptive statistics, particularly frequencies and percentages, were used to analyse the data, while the findings were presented in tables and figures. The results showed that poverty/low household income was the leading factor responsible for domestic water scarcity, accounting for 46.9% of responses, followed by lack of pipe-borne water supply (35.4%), irregular supply from boreholes (15.8%) and poor alternative water sources (1.9%). The study further established that water scarcity was predominantly an all-year-round problem, as reported by 57.56% of respondents, while 42.44% regarded it as seasonal. Access to wells and boreholes was also concentrated within limited morning periods, with no respondents reporting 24-hour accessibility, while queues and congestion were commonly experienced at available water points. These findings demonstrate that domestic water scarcity in Keffi was influenced by a combination of economic, infrastructural and accessibility-related factors, rather than by physical water availability alone. The study concluded that improving domestic water security requires expansion and rehabilitation of pipe-borne water infrastructure, improvement in the reliability and operational capacity of boreholes, regular maintenance of existing facilities, and measures to enhance the affordability of water for low-income households. The study recommends that relevant government agencies and stakeholders should adopt an integrated and sustainable water-supply strategy that addresses both the infrastructural deficiencies and socioeconomic constraints affecting household access to domestic water in Keffi.