Assessment of the Causes, Patterns, And Environmental Impacts of Urban Flooding in Jimeta, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Urban flooding is a recurring environmental problem in Jimeta, Adamawa State, with adverse implications for infrastructure, settlements, drainage systems, and environmental sanitation. This study assessed the causes, patterns, and environmental impacts of urban flooding in Jimeta. Specifically, it identified the major causes of flooding, examined its spatial and temporal patterns, and assessed its environmental consequences. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and utilised primary and secondary data. Primary data were obtained through structured questionnaires administered to residents of selected flood-prone communities, supplemented by field observations. Secondary data were obtained from relevant literature and documented sources on flooding in the study area. Data were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean, and standard deviation, with a criterion mean of 2.50 used to interpret responses to four-point Likert-scale items. The findings revealed that inadequate drainage systems were the most prominent reported cause of flooding, with a mean score of 3.62, followed by blockage of drainage channels by waste (3.57) and heavy and prolonged rainfall (3.55). Regarding flooding patterns, 78.0% of respondents reported that flooding occurred during heavy rainfall, while 74.0% indicated that it occurred mainly during the rainy season. Furthermore, 69.5% reported repeated flooding in the same locations, suggesting persistent vulnerability in certain parts of Jimeta. Soil erosion was identified as the most prominent environmental impact, with a mean score of 3.61, followed by the accumulation and spread of solid waste (3.56), damage to roads and drainage infrastructure (3.53), and water pollution or contamination (3.49). The study concluded that urban flooding in Jimeta results from the interaction of natural factors and human activities, particularly heavy rainfall, inadequate drainage, improper waste disposal, and development in flood-prone areas. It recommended regular maintenance of drainage infrastructure, improved solid-waste management, enforcement of land-use regulations, and sustained public environmental awareness to reduce flood occurrence and its environmental consequences.

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