Abstract

Point-of-use household water treatment (HWT) has been advocated to substantially decrease the global burden of waterborne diseases and to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. To determine to what extent HWT has been undertaken in communities in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, we investigated the spatial pattern of household water management practices in parts of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. The study objectives included confirming sources of water supply, the determinants of different approaches and the underlying factors of water management practices adopted by households. Some 352 households selected randomly from three communities in a proportionate ratio were administered the structured questionnaire. Personal interviews, field observations and secondary data complemented data collection exercise. The study results revealed 84.4% of households were still reliant on surface water as principal source of domestic water supply and households with average family size of 5-7 members consume between 200 to 250 litres of water per day. Water is stored mostly in drums and jerry-cans and 42% of the households do not apply any treatment method while some 25.6% and >27% use alum and sedimentation respectively for water treatment before use. Significant variation exists amongst households with respect to water management practices and the relationship between income level and household water management practices was also found significant. Government’s intervention in water provision for households to reduce and prevent incidences of water-related diseases is recommended while households must be enlightened and encouraged to adopt proper domestic water storage systems and treatment for healthy living.

Key Words: Point of use water treatment, SDGs, Household water management practices, Water supply, Bayelsa State