THE ROLE OF COMMUNITIES IN IMPROVED RURAL WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS IN NIGERIA: MANAGEMENT MODEL AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR VISION 20:2020

Nigeria is endowed with enormous surface and groundwater resources, yet the provision of potable and safe water supply is still inadequate. So many programmes to improve rural water supply had been launched by many government agencies and international organizations. Even with the perceived economic expansion in the country, the coordination of the activities in the context of sustainable rural water supply situation is still poor, resulting to attention not been paid to the quality of water supplied to rural communities. Sustainable rural water supply in Nigeria entails the effective utilization of available surface and groundwater resources to satisfy the country’s present and future water needs in terms of quality and quantity. This paper therefore proposes and recommends a simple community based water resources management model, and presents novel concepts as well as new parameters to find a sustainable option of safe drinking water through active participation of local people. The paper also identifies the role of communities in sustainable rural water supply and examines the measures needed to operate and maintain the water sources efficiently in Nigeria in line with the present government’s vision 20:2020. Above all, the paper indicates that intelligent and accountable water resources management will not be established without the conscientious participation of local people.