Variation in existing domestic service level of pipe-borne water supply and associated challenges in a tourism destination of Uyo Capital City, Nigeria

Abstract

Domestic water supply plays a very significant role in the day to day life of humans in the global society and without water, life cannot be continued and that while water provisions are one of the basic requirements for human’s survival. This study therefore examined the evaluation of pipe borne water supply in Uyo Capital City, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. In an effort to approximate pipe borne water supply in the study area, the research was hinged on the following objectives, to examine variation in the existing domestic service level of pipe-borne water among communities in the study area and to examine the challenges associated with pipe-borne water supply in the area. Furthermore, a multistage sample technique was used to circumvent a practical difficulty in sampling the study area as the region was delineated into six zones. Geographic Information System was employed to collect coordinates while questionnaire was also used for data collections. 400 copies of questionnaires were purposively administered to the respondents in different zones as follows; Uyo (197), Ibesikpo-Asutan (98), Uruan (45), Ibiono-Ibom (9), Itu (30) and Nsit Ibom (21). Nevertheless, additional 25 questionnaires representing about 10% of the staff (248) of Akwa Ibom Water Company Limited were interpreted with statistical techniques. For hypothesis one, which states that there is no significant variation in the existing domestic service level of pipe-borne water among communities. One way analysis of variance was used and it was discovered that existing service level of pipe-borne water does not differ significantly among communities in the study area (p = 0.81. This result was further supported by Water Production and Supply Intensification Model. Grounded on the findings, it is recommended that water distribution network and supply should be expanded to all the communities within the study area by the government. It is also recommended that the government should partner with organisations for a viable pipe-borne water supply to its residents in the area.