Urban Water Supply and Public Health Administration: A Study of Private Borehole in Uyo Metropolis

Abstract

This study examined the implications of private borehole water supply on public health in Uyo Metropolis, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The increasing dependence on private boreholes as an alternative source of domestic water supply, resulting from inadequate public water infrastructure, has generated concerns regarding water quality, water treatment practices, water storage conditions, and their associated public health outcomes. Specifically, the study assessed the influence of water treatment practices on the prevalence of waterborne diseases and examined the effect of water storage practices on the health status of residents in Uyo Metropolis. A mixed-methods research design was adopted, integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study population comprised households, institutional users of private boreholes, municipal water authorities, local government officials, and community leaders. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select respondents across the wards of Uyo Metropolis. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, observational methods, and laboratory analysis of selected borehole water samples. A total of 384 questionnaires were administered, of which 380 were successfully retrieved and analyzed. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test, while qualitative data were analyzed through thematic content analysis. The findings revealed that inadequate household water treatment practices significantly increased the prevalence of waterborne diseases. A substantial proportion of respondents consumed borehole water without appropriate treatment, thereby increasing exposure to diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera, and diarrhoeal infections. The Chi-square analysis established a statistically significant relationship between water treatment practices and the prevalence of waterborne diseases. The study further found that poor water storage practices, including the use of contaminated containers and prolonged storage without adequate protection, negatively affected the health status of residents by increasing the risk of water contamination. Statistical analysis also confirmed a significant relationship between water storage conditions and residents' health status. The study concluded that improving water quality management, safe water handling, and borehole regulation is essential for protecting public health. It therefore recommended regular water quality monitoring, strict enforcement of borehole water safety regulations, intensified public health education on proper water treatment and storage practices, and increased government investment in public water supply infrastructure to reduce dependence on unregulated private boreholes.