An Evaluation of Demand for and Supply of Potable Water in an Urban Centre of Abeokuta and Environs, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The current and future demand for potable water supply to Abeokuta city and environs in southwestern Nigeria were estimated in this study. The estimated water demands, up to the year 2030, were based on population growth and per capita water consumption. The study also investigated whether the present source of public water supply to the city and environs could meet the estimated demand. The consumption standards of 120 and 60 l per capita per day for urban and semi-urban water supplies respectively, recommended in the Nigerian Water Supply and Sanitation Policy, were used for domestic demand estimates. The institutional, industrial, fire service, horticulture and animal husbandry water requirements were based on reasonable percentages of the total domestic demand. The flow of Ogun River, which is the source of raw water for the Abeokuta Water Supply scheme serving Abeokuta city and environs, was assessed and found sufficient to meet the estimated future potable water requirements of the study area. The study indicated that the estimated current annual potable water demand of Abeokuta city and environs (in 2011) is 5.52 × 10⁷ m³ (1.51 × 10⁵ m³/day) and the projected annual potable water demand for the year 2030 is 7.67 × 10⁷ m³ (2.10 × 10⁵ m³/day). At a design capacity of 1.62 × 10⁵ m³/day, the total water supply from the Abeokuta Water Supply Scheme at full capacity will just be about the total required in 2014. By 2015, the scheme will no longer be adequate to meet the total water required, even if it is run at full capacity. It is therefore imperative that the current scheme is expanded within the next 4 years in order to meet the potable water demand of the intended population.