ANALYSIS OF WATER POVERTY FOR IREPODUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA (KWARA STATE , NIGERIA)

Abstract

In the wake of a growing concern about the unchecked rise of poverty and the consequences of water scarcity, the relationships between water and poverty form an object of a sprawling literature. This research seeks to study access to rural water supply in Irepodun Local Government Area (LGA), Kwara State. Data were sourced from the 11wards in the LGA. Twenty households were sampled per ward; altogether 220 households were sampled in this study. Access to water was estimated using Water poverty index (WPI) computed after Sullivan and Meigh [2006] using household data; based on 5 sub-components: resources, accessibility, capacity, uses and environment. Resources was seen to be high generally, with highest in Omu Aran ward I (93 %), accessibility was highest in Oro I (71 %), capacity was generally weak (highest score was 43 % in Omu Aran II), uses was highest in Omu Aran II and in Oko, environment was highest in Ipetu-Rore-Aran Orin ward (63 %.).Water poverty index (WPI) was least (47 %) in Oko ward, while the highest (62 %) was obtained at Ipetu-Rore-Aran Orin ward. Only 2 LGAs namely: Oko and Arandun wards are water poor, all other wards have above average scores. However, the seemingly high scores are mainly due to the relatively high mean annual rainfall (MA R) and the efforts of Community Based Associations (CBA) which is typical of Kwara south senatorial districts of Kwara state which has long history of CBAs and Town Unions dating back into about 100years. Hence, there is need for government and public-private intervention in water provision; particularly in Oko and Arandun wards in view of their low capacities and few sources of water as locals will have low capacities to explore alternative sources of water. Conclusively, access to water in Irepodun LGA is appreciably high. However, the challenges of increasing population and urbanization suggest needs for expanding water resources infrastructures in the LGA.