The use of composite water poverty index in assessing water scarcity in the rural areas of Oyo State, Nigeria

Physical availability of water resources is beneficial to man when it is readily accessible. Oyo State is noted for abundant surface water and appreciable groundwater resources in its pockets of regolith aquifers; as it has about eight months of rainy season and a relatively deep weathered regolith. In spite of this, cases of water associated diseases and deaths have been reported in the rural areas of the state. This study attempts to conduct an investigation into accessibility to potable water in the rural areas of Oyo State, Nigeria via the component approach of water poverty index (WPI). Multistage method of sampling was applied to select 5 rural communities from 25 rural LGAs out of the 33 LGAs in the State. Data were collected through the administration of 1,250 copies of questionnaire across 125 rural communities. Component Index method as developed by Sullivan, et al (2003) was modified and used in this study. The results show that values of WPI were generally low, ranging from 11.29% in Itesiwaju LGA to 47.89% in Atisbo LGA out of 100% maximum obtainable; indicating that these rural areas are water stressed. The paper recommends aggressive human development efforts and the need for massive improvement in water infrastructure in the state.Key words: Water Poverty Index (WPI), Water accessibility, Rural Areas

Rainfall Incidences and Groundwater Characteristics in the Sedimentary Basin Of Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria

Groundwater fluctuation is an important phenomenon in water supply within semi-arid regions. Sokoto state has a dry season of 8 months and rainy season of 4 months; this has a profound impact on groundwater level. This study examines groundwater fluctuation within Sokoto metropolis. Groundwater levels in selected shallow wells were monitored after 3 incidences of rainfall in 20 shallow water wells between May and June, 2011. Measuring tape and Global Positioning System (GPS) were used as instruments of data collection. The water levels and the GPS values served as input into Surfer 10 Digital Elevation Mapper, using 3D (Dimension) digitizing and one grid vector mapping techniques. Also, digitized map of Sokoto metropolis was imported into Surfer 10 digital elevation Mapper environment to enable the positioning of the sampled sites of water levels for both dry and rainy events. One grid vector was used to classify Sokoto metropolis into areas of high, moderate and low water levels. One way ANOVA statistical technique was used to test differences in rainfall and water level fluctuations in shallow wells of Sokoto metropolis. The results showed that there were no significant variations between levels of groundwater with rainfall events. It also showed that groundwater flow in Sokoto metropolis is in 4 different directions. In addition, Sokoto metropolis was classified into 6 regional groundwater regions. The paper suggests a need for further study

The role of rainfall variability in reservoir storage management at Shiroro hydropower dam, Nigeria

Reservoir operation and management is usually patterned after the background of long standing water resources management experience. Reservoir management for optimum power production at any hydropower station requires constant assessment of the quantity of available water. The hydrographic responses of flow monitoring and statistical analysis of instrumental hydro-met records, especially rainfall and stream flow provide the necessary springboard for soundoperational decisions. Statistical analysis of hydrometeorological data (rainfall, inflow, reservoir storage and turbine release) at Shiroro dam was carried out with the aim of detecting spatio - temporal trends. Correlation and regression analysis were used to develop models for the variables. The correlation of between 0.120 and 0.774 revealed favourable relationships between the variables. This has invariably affected reservoir storage at the dam as excess water is released from the dam to sustain power generation over the years. It is  recommended that dam operators optimize the release of water from  Shiroro dam and ensure continuous monitoring of changes in  hydrometeorological variables to provide early warning systems for  effective performance of the dam and to protect downstream environment. Key words: Rainfall Variability, Reservoir Management, Environment, Dam, Storag

Time series analyses of mean monthly rainfall for drought management in Sokoto, Nigeria

This paper analyses the time series characteristics of rainfall data for Sokoto metropolis for 40 years with a view to understanding drought management. Data for this study was obtained from the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NIMET), Sokoto Airport; Sokoto. The data was subjected to time series tests (trend, cycle, seasonal and decomposition analyses) using additive and multiplicative modeling approach. The results showed an increasing trend of rainfall amount over the metropolis within the period under review. Analysis of seasonality in monthly precipitation showed a concentration of rainfall in the months of June, July and August while it decreases in September; however, the months of March, April, and October do experience some showers of rainfall sometimes. Obviously, result of the seasonality analysis showed that January, February, March, April, May, November and December are dry months. This implies that growing season in Sokoto do end around September. The implication is that farmers in the study area need to stream line their farming activities with a view to making effective use of the available rainfall. The paper also suggests a need for building micro dams, developed underground water resources and or adopts conjunctive water management as part of drought management efforts.Keywords: Rainfall, seasonality, cycle, decomposition, multiplicative modeling, drough

Hydrogeological Characteristics of Groundwater Yield in Shallow Wells of the Regolith Aquifer: a Study from Ilorin, Nigeria

Present paper tries to understand the influence of hydrogeological characteristics on groundwater yield of shallow wells in regolith aquifer, Ilorin, Nigeria. The data on hydrogeological characteristics such as drawdown, water level, depth of borehole, depth of overburden and well yield for 78 borewells were collected from Kwara State Ministry of Water Resources and Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority in Ilorin. While the aquifer transmissivity and well specific capacity was calculated from this data. The data obtained were subjected to Pearson moment correlation, multiple and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The results of the stepwise multiple regression (R2 of .929) indicates that aquifer transmissivity and drawdown contributed 92.9% to the variability in well yield in the study area. It is concluded that while constructing wells, aquifer transmissivity and the rate of drawdown be taking into account for the purpose of having productive well in the study area.Keywords: Aquifer Transmissivity, Well Specific Capacity, Regolith Aquifer, Drawdown, Well Yield, Groundwater, Ilorin, Nigeria

Lake drying and livelihood dynamics in Lake Chad: unravelling the mechanisms, contexts and responses

This article examines lake drying and livelihood dynamics in the context of multiple stressors through a case study of the ‘‘Small Lake Chad’’ in the Republic of Chad. Livelihoods research in regions experiencing persistent lake water fluctuations has largely focused on the wellbeing and security of lakeshore dwellers. Little is known about the mechanisms through which lake drying shapes livelihood drawbacks and opportunities, and whether locally evolved responses are enhancing livelihoods. Here we address these gaps using empirical, mixed-methods field research couched within the framework of livelihoods and human well-being contexts. The analysis demonstrates that limited opportunities outside agriculture, the influx of mixed ethnic migrants and the increasing spate of violence all enhance livelihood challenges. Livelihood opportunities centre on the renewal effects of seasonal flood pulses on lake waters and the learning opportunities triggered by past droughts. Although drying has spurred new adaptive behaviours predicated on seasonality, traditional predictive factors and the availability of assets, responses have remained largely reactive. The article points to where lake drying fits amongst changes in the wider socioeconomic landscape in which people live, and suggests that awareness of the particularities of the mechanisms that connect lake drying to livelihoods can offer insights into the ways local people might be assisted by governments and development actors

Recharging the Lake Chad: the Hydropolitics of National Security and Regional Integration in Africa

Lake Chad, the 6th largest lake in the world, has hydrographical basin area of 2,381,631 km2 , an active basin of 966,955km2; it is a source of fresh water, fisheries, pastoral and agricultural land in Algeria, Cameroun, CAR, Chad, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, and Sudan with a population of 30 million spread across. Lake Chad is under the threat of climatic change. It has reduced from 25,000km2 1963 to 2,000km2 in 2010. According to the President of Nigeria, this lake may disappear within 20 years. Desiccation of Lake Chad has various consequences on hydrological regimes, water pollution, biodiversity, ecosystem, sedimentation, security, livelihood, regional stability, etc. These consequences are mostly felt in Nigeria. In an effort to overcome these problems, the concept of TRANSAQUA was muted to transfer water from the Congo basin. This involves the construction of 2,500km navigable channel from the Ubangi River in the Congo basin to recharge the lake. Indeed, a recharge of the lake will not only make the basin more active, it will facilitate navigation, generate electricity, regulate river regime, clear land lockedness, re-establish fishery and irrigation, promote poverty alleviation, mitigate drought, and check desertification. All these will facilitate economic development and enhance regional integration. This paper makes a case for water recharge in Lake Chad basin, studies IBWT project in the Lake Chad region and analyses its implication on Nigeria and Africa South of Sahara

Agricultural implication of subsurface flow in parts of the basement complex of northern; Nigeria.

Graphical hydrograph separation procedure was used to stucdy the contribution of subsurface flow and to annual hydrograph in the Upper Kaduna Catchment. Twenty sub basins were selected for the study and a total of 220 hydrographs were separated. The separated components of annual hydrographs were subjected to the Dunean multiple range ANOVA and  three regional patterns of sub surface flow and soil water emerged. Reasons suggested for this may include the geology, soil characteristics, vegetation types slope characteristics and land use types of the study area.The paper finally pointed out the potential of such efforts in agricultural planning in Nigeria

Redundancies in Hydro Reservoir Elements and their Contributions to Electric Power Generation in the Jebba Hydel Power Reservoir, Nigeria

Despite the over 100 years of electricity in Nigeria, power generation is still largely lagging behind its demand as all the hydro dams are still performing below installed capacities. The purpose of this paper is to expose the rates of redundancies in the contributions of reservoir elements to power generation in Jebba dam and to guide dam operators in designing reservoir rules. The data used in this study comprises of monthly power generated in mg/watts and monthly characteristics of 10 reservoir elements. These information were collected from 1990-1998. These data were obtained from the Hydrology Department of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Jebba Business Distinct; Jebba North, Nigeria. The data were interpreted with statistical averages, simple percentages, graphs, while factormultiple regression and factor-stepwise regression were used asreduce-rank models to estimate rates of redundancies on monthly basis. Altogether, 24 mathematical operations were carried out; which is a breakdown of 2 factor regression modelling operations per month (one each for factor-multiple and factor-stepwise regression). The percentages of explanation of factor analysis equations range from 79.2% in April to 92.7% in December, with percentages of redundancies ranging from 7.70% in December to 20.8% in April. The percentages of explanation of multiple regression also vary from 13.4% in April to 98.5% in February, while its monthly percentages of explanations outside the multiple regression equations range between 1.50% in February to 86.6% in April. Also, the percentages of explanations of stepwise regression equation range between 0.00% in April to 95.7% in February and it rates of redundancies range from 4.30 % in February to 100% in April. The results show that high rates of redundancies were exhibited in the various associations. Meanwhile, redundancies were patterned after the reservoir hydrology. For example, high redundancies were experienced in the period of low inflows such as April and November, while low redundancies were exhibited in periods of high inflows such as January, September and October. The paper has exposed that high level of redundancies are exhibited on monthly basis. The knowledge of the redundancies are important to designs of reservoir rules. The study further recommends that attempt should be made to control reservoir evaporation

Analysis of the Impacts of Rainfall Variability on Public Water Supply in Ilorin, Nigeria

Several studies have revealed the impacts of rainfall variability on water resources across the world. This paper makes an analysis of the impacts of rainfall variability on public water supply in Ilorin. The data used in thisstudy are mainly rainfall amount for 30 years (1981-2010), which was obtained from NIMET and the quantity of water supplied by Kwara State Water Corporation, which was only available for 11 years (2001-2011). These data were interpreted using both descriptive and analytical methods. The analytical procedures include time series analysis, reduction pattern analysis and Pearson moment correlation. The results of the trend analysis show that rainfall and water supply in Ilorin have been on the increase at the rate of 0.27mm per annum and 0.20 million (m3) per annum respectively over the period of study. The results of reduction pattern analysis carried out revealed the variability and the percentage changes in rainfall and water supply over time in Ilorin. The result of Pearson moment correlation coefficient revealed that strong negative relationship (-0.6) existed between monthly rainfall and monthly water supply at 0.05  significant level. This shows that as rainfall increases, water production in the treatment plant decreases. This is expected in view of the increasing cost of water treatment in rainy seasons. It was concluded that increase inrainfall poses water treatment challenges. It was therefore recommended that the capacity of treatment plants be increased. This would enable proper management of the abundant surface water and in turn increase water supply in the city.Keywords: Rainfall variability, public water, supply, tren