European Journal of Social Sciences Studies ISSN: 2501-8590 ISSN-L: 2501-8590 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/soc doi: 10.5281/zenodo.2070313 Volume 3 │ Issue 4 │ 2018 DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY: ANALYSIS OF POPULATION DENSITY AND WATER SUPPLY IN KEBBI STATE, NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA Saadu Umar Wali1, Sheikh Danjuma Abubakar2, Ibrahim Mustapha Dankani2i, Murtala Abubakar Gada2 1Department of Geography, Federal University Birnin-kebbi, P.M.B 1157, Kebbi State, Nigeria 2Department of Geography, Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University Sokoto, P.M.B 2346, Sokoto State, Nigeria Abstract: Development and management of an improved water supply system is a great challenge faced by most developing nations. With rapid population growth and urbanization most, states in Nigeria find it difficult to deliver potable water to a substantial number of people who are in dire need for this resource, especially in the Urban areas. In this study, we attempt to relate public water supply to population density in Kebbi State. An inventory of water supply facilities was taken in 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kebbi State. Census data was collected from the National Population Commission (NPC), Birnin-kebbi. Results showed that, population density correlates very strongly and positively with handpumps (r=0.95), urban schemes (r=0.88), semi-urban schemes (r=0.69) and village scheme (r=0.74). There was a very weak but positive correlation between population density and boreholes (r=<0.001); population density and tabs (r=<0.001). PCA results showed, that the 21 LGAs cluster nicely across a spectrum of public water supply infrastructure. The ratio of persons to water sources is thus: Borehole 1:12794.1; Handpumps 1:7640.2; Taps 1:2821.8; Urban scheme 1:233799.6; Semi-urban scheme 1:63739.7; and Village scheme 1:67245.9. Suggesting that, the existing public water supply facilities are inadequate. More water supply infrastructure is needed to provide people with improved water supply. However, there are no statistics on private boreholes and people depending on them in Kebbi State. An inventory of private water supply sources in Kebbi State is recommended. This will guide policy regarding improved water supply in Kebbi State. Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. © 2015 – 2017 Open Access Publishing Group 36 Saadu Umar Wali, Sheikh Danjuma Abubakar, Ibrahim Mustapha Dankani, Murtala Abubakar Gada DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY: ANALYSIS OF POPULATION DENSITY AND WATER SUPPLY IN KEBBI STATE, NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA Keywords: boreholes, hand pumps, taps, urban water scheme, rural water scheme, village water scheme. 1. Introduction In many developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), greater attention has been paid to the broader livelihood benefit of improved water supply, especially in rural areas, looking beyond direct links between improved sanitation and water supply to reliable supply of potable water of excellent quality (Ismail, 2014). Improved water supply and sanitation have been one of the priorities of governments at various levels in SSA (Banerjee, 2008). Because sufficient water supply is a prerequisite for a healthy leaving. In many recent campaigns on improved water supply, the importance of community participation is increasingly being acknowledged, especially in rural areas. Because the demand for water supply is localized demands. Therefore, managerial decisions about the level of services locations of water supply facilities as well as cost sharing should be made locally (Ismail, 2014). The key role of higher level government agencies should, therefore, be made to establish institutional rules, regulations, and processes that encourage such decisions (Ismail, 2014). The problems with most developing countries are that public water supply facilities, especially in densely populated regions, are always not available. And where available, the volume of water provided may not be adequate or of excellent quality (Njoku, 2010). However, the natural distribution of water resources is usually not easily accessible by many people particularly in remote communities (Adedeji, 2014). At least four out of ten people in the world lack access to potable drinking water of excellent quality (Njoku, 2010). However, it is well established that, potable water, is a scarce resource in most developing countries, with rural areas been the most affected. A survey of access to improved water supply and sanitation in thirty-seven (37) small towns (one per state) carried out in Nigeria, revealed that only about 5% of Nigerians had access to water from protected boreholes, and 13% use water from communal wells (Adedeji, 2014). The small towns have been largely ignored by public water supply agencies, and the gap is filled by private, informal arrangements, where individuals pay unit rates for water which is 10 – 20 times higher than those with access to public sector services. In addition, it is estimated that only about 35% of the rural population have access to safe and reliable drinking water supply and improved sanitation (Adedeji, 2014). Many programs on improving water supply are on track by both governmental and non-governmental agencies in Nigeria and some of these programs have recorded considerable progress in remediating water supply shortages through the provision of boreholes and handpumps in both urban and rural areas (Madu 2010). Despite these efforts, many semi-urban and village water schemes that relied on boreholes and/or handpumps, are not properly maintained. For instance, about 42% of boreholes in European Journal of Social Sciences Studies - Volume 3 │ Issue 4 │ 2018 37 Saadu Umar Wali, Sheikh Danjuma Abubakar, Ibrahim Mustapha Dankani, Murtala Abubakar Gada DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY: ANALYSIS OF POPULATION DENSITY AND WATER SUPPLY IN KEBBI STATE, NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA Sokoto state are not in operation, while only 40% of the village water schemes are in full operation. In contrast to these, about 80% of semi-urban water schemes are functioning (Iliya and Gada, 2010). Despite the challenges relating to maintenance of water supply facilities, there are three crucial factors that should be considered in any water supply program meant for improving domestic water supply. These are; location (or accessibility), availability and quality. Where any of the above is lacking, it would be grossly incorrect to say such an area enjoys accessibility to good portable water (Adedeji, 2014). Many studies on water supply were carried out in Nigeria including Nwagbara et al. (2010), Okereke (2010), Madu (2010), Iliya and Gada (2010), Adedeji (2014) and (Ismail 2014). Most of these studies focused on problems such as impacts of climate change on water supply, the performance of water supply schemes, and the like. A comprehensive study assessing the distribution of public water supply facilities at state levels is mostly carried out by government agencies. And results are often decorated. How the distribution of water supply facilities relates to population distribution is seldom studied. However, in many developing countries especially in SSA, census data are rarely incorporated in designing water supply programs. In addition, politics play important roles in determining where water supply facilities are to be located or constructed. We upscale this study to demonstrate that the setting of public water supply infrastructure was population driven in Kebbi State, Nigeria. 2. The study area 2.1 Location and size Kebbi state (Figure 1) is situated between latitude 100 8’ and 130 15’ north of the equator; and between longitude 30 30´ E. Kebbi State shares boundary with Sokoto state on the north-eastern axis, Zamfara State in the eastern part, Niger state in the southern part and Republic of Niger on the western part. The state occupies a total land area of about 36,800 km² (Abdulrahim, et al., 2014). European Journal of Social Sciences Studies - Volume 3 │ Issue 4 │ 2018 38 Saadu Umar Wali, Sheikh Danjuma Abubakar, Ibrahim Mustapha Dankani, Murtala Abubakar Gada DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY: ANALYSIS OF POPULATION DENSITY AND WATER SUPPLY IN KEBBI STATE, NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA Figure 1: Map of Kebbi state 2.1 Climate The climate of Kebbi state is hot, semi-arid tropical (AW) in Koppen’s classification (Wali et al. 2016). The climate is characterized by a long dry season lasting between the months of October and May with a short but intensive wet season between the months of May and October. The dry season results from a hot continental air mass blowing from the North-west through the Sahara Desert. The rainy season results from humid equatorial maritime air mass blowing from the South-west over the Gulf of Guinea (Wali, 2012). Owing to the position of the state in extreme North-western Nigeria and over 1000km away from the sea, Kebbi state remains largely dry for most periods of the year. 2.2 Hydrology and water resources In terms of its hydrology, the state falls within the Sokoto basin. The basin is part of an extensive elongated sedimentary formation underlying most of North-western Nigeria and eastern part of Republic of Niger (Kogbe, 1981). The basin is well known for its groundwater potentials (Ofodile, 2002). Despite the potentials presented by groundwater aquifers in Kebbi state, many communities are still struggling with water supply shortages and where water supply is adequate, the water quality and safety for drinking remain largely uninvestigated (Wali and Bakari 2016). Apart from these, the study area is in the semi-arid zone, which is very sensitive to climate change. There European Journal of Social Sciences Studies - Volume 3 │ Issue 4 │ 2018 39 Saadu Umar Wali, Sheikh Danjuma Abubakar, Ibrahim Mustapha Dankani, Murtala Abubakar Gada DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY: ANALYSIS OF POPULATION DENSITY AND WATER SUPPLY IN KEBBI STATE, NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA have been fluctuations in annual rainfall (Wali et al. 2016). For many years, rainfall short-circuits, even though it intensifies over some years thereby reducing the effects of seasonal droughts (Wali et al.