Investigating the Impact of Inadequate Water Supply on the Environmental Health of Enugu's Urban Residents
Ojielo A.B and Ezeodili W.O.
Abstract
The inadequate supply of water poses serious risks to public health, sanitation, and environmental sustainability, undermining efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030. This study examined the effects of inadequate water supply on the environmental health of urban residents in Enugu Urban, Enugu State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, targeting a population of 1,029,400 people across three local governments in Enugu Urban. A sample size of 400 was determined using the Taro Yamane formula, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, means, and standard deviations, while simple linear regression analysis was employed to test the stated hypotheses using SPSS (version 25). The findings revealed that the current state of water supply infrastructure significantly negatively impacts access to potable water in Enugu Urban. The study confirmed that inadequate water supply adversely affects the environmental health of residents. Additionally, the study discovered a significant difference between the Enugu Urban water supply system and the targets outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). It concluded that inadequate water supply is a critical driver of poor environmental health in Enugu Urban. To address these issues, the study recommends comprehensive rehabilitation of infrastructure, increased community engagement in water planning, and the adoption of sustainability frameworks such as the Predictive Iterative Sustainability Model (PISM) to improve planning and service delivery. It also emphasizes the need for a coordinated, inclusive, and well-funded approach to enhance water access and environmental health outcomes in Enugu Urban.
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