Appraisal of Rural Water Supply: Case Study of Kwara State, North Central Nigeria

Provision of clean domestic water for both rural and urban dwellers should be seen as a necessity by policy makers. However, this is not so for developing nations where rural dwellers are neglected whenever water supply schemes are been contemplated. This paper assessed rural water supply system in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to respondents in the area under investigation for quantitative evaluation while samples were taken from their prevailing water sources for physico-chemical analysis. The result of the study showed that these rural dwellers are still not benefiting from rural water supply schemes whether from Government or Non-Governmental Organisations. More than 90% of them still depend on contaminated streams, rivers and unlined, unprotected shallow wells for their water needs. Only about 31.1% subject the water to some forms of treatment before use. From qualitative analysis, more than 70% of the samples analysed has physico-chemical and bacteriological parameter values higher than WHO and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality Standards. There is an urgent need for provision of potable water within the reach of these people to prevent outbreak of more water related problems.