Groundwater Use in Yenagoa: Impact on Residential Development and Investment

Abstract

In the oil-producing metropolis of Yenagoa and its surroundings in Bayelsa State, Nigeria’s Yenagoa Local Government Area (YELGA), groundwater is the main and only safe source of water. As the capital of Bayelsa State, the city experienced rapid development, resulting in an influx of people and a subsequent freshwater deficit due to increased oil production and groundwater pollution. For the sustainable growth of water resources, preventing water or piezometer level fluctuations and quantitatively estimating the area’s available water supplies are crucial. To meet the water needs of the population, boreholes are dug using rotary technology and cable devices. The size of the borehole, the type of construction, the type of material used (casing and screen), and the availability of sachet water are some of the many factors that affect the cost of constructing a water borehole in Yenagoa and its environs. This study shows that the location of the study area in the riverine Niger Delta area of Nigeria makes the construction of boreholes more expensive. Data on the cost of drilling boreholes in the exhibited area shows a significant increase over time. It is shown that the long economic life of drilled borehole depends on monitoring of aquifers and wells, as well as maintenance of wells, pumps, and accessories, all of which prove inadequate.