MEASUREMENT OF WATER RESOURCES INDEX IN ESTAKO-WEST AND ESAN CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Philipa O. Idogho* and Olotu Yahaya**

*The Rector, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo state, Nigeria
** Department of Agricultural Engineering, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria

Abstract

As world population and industrial-agricultural outputs have increased, the use of water has accelerated. This development leads to extreme difficulty to provide sufficient safe drinking water in Etasko-West and Esan Central. Water sensitivity was measured in six major towns in Etasko-West and Esan Central. Water Measuring Indicators such as Water Poverty Index-Real Time (WPIr), Water Factor Value (WFV) and Access-Demand Factor (γ) were applied to generate water sensitivity iterations. The outputs of these iterations show that Irrua has the fairest water supply and distribution with WPIr, WFA and γ index value of 0.22; 0.77 and 0.76, while Auchi and Ewu experience acute water shortage with the following index values: WPIr-0.43, 0.39; WFV-0.06, 0.16; and γ-0.64, 0.6 respectively. Results of One-Sample Test and Paired Sample Statistics show that the proportion of monthly income spent on portable water is significant at 0.95 confidence interval in all towns, except Auchi. Comparative analysis indicates strong relationship (R2=0.667) between the resources spent in procuring clean water and accessibility-demand ratio in the region. Private sector participation recorded highest investment value of 62% on water sector; government and corporate organization recorded 23% and 15% respectively. Since private sector determines the progresses of water sector, this accounts for the exorbitant tariff of N 1, 500 per m3 in this region. It is deduced that the most significant problems faced with water accessibility-affordability are transportation, finance and power supply with computed constraint index value of 47%, 40% and 13% respectively. Finally, Etasko-West and Esan Central are highly water-stressed. Government, corporate organization and private investors need to establish technically-based measures to ensure perfect accessibility and affordability of this scarce utility.

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