WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES AND SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT FOR EDO CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT, EDO STATE

Abstract

The Edo State Central Senatorial District comprising of five Local Government Areas with about one hundred and fifty six towns, communities and camps has a population of three hundred and seventy-two thousand, one hundred and twenty-two (372,122) people by the 1991 census figure. There are three surface water schemes - Ugbalo; Iyagun and Ibiekuma across the Senatorial District, yet the major problem of the area is inadequate water supply. About seventy-five percent of the population have no access to portable water supply. The three water schemes service range is limited and bedevilled with deficiency and decay of facilities resulting in ineffectiveness of the supply systems. The existing water supply facilities in the Senatorial District were appraised, the technical problems affecting them identified and the required improvements and modifications for optimisation of the schemes based on the reality of times were articulated. The streams flow capacities from the measurement taken showed that much more water can be abstracted from the streams for enhanced supply to the communities. Other sources (Ella and Amendokhian streams) with high flow potential were identified for development to extend water supply coverage of the Senatorial District.The outcome of this study showed that the three existing water schemes in the area are capable of an increased daily total output of about One hundred and twenty-five thousand, five hundred and twenty-six cubic metres per day (125,526m3/d). The other identified surface water sources have potential for increased water supply to the area with about Sixty thousand cubic metres/day (60,000 m3/d) With a projected population of about one million, one hundred fifty-one thousand, four hundred and seventy-nine people (1,l51,479) by the year 2028 and water demand of one hundred and ninety-three thousand, four hundred and fifty cubic metres/day (193,450 m3/d) the three existing water schemes and the addition of the proposed two new surface water schemes at Igueben and Uromi, will enhance water supply to the area to about one hundred and seventy thousand, seven hundred and seventy-six cubic metres per day (170,776 m3/d). While the shortfall would be augmented from underground water sources (boreholes). With each of the three existing and the two proposed schemes located in one of the five Local Government Areas comprising the Senatorial District respectively; and the booster stations linkage; the upgrading of the schemes and the development of the proposed ones the demand of the area will be met within the projected period.