Investigation of Water Supply Challenges and Their Effects on Urban Development in Ilorin, Kwara State

Access to reliable piped water supply is a prerequisite for healthy urban development, yet water infrastructure deficits remain widespread in Nigerian cities. This study investigates water supply challenges and their effects on urban development in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State and a major North Central Nigerian city. Using a descriptive research design, data were collected from 220 households across six wards through structured questionnaires examining water source usage, service reliability, coping costs, and perceived effects on housing and business activities. Key informant interviews were conducted with Kwara State Water Corporation officials and representatives of community water supply committees. Secondary data on production capacity, distribution coverage, and non-revenue water rates were sourced from the water corporation's annual reports. Findings are expected to reveal widespread reliance on private boreholes, water vendors, and tanker trucks as alternatives to the dysfunctional public supply system, significantly increasing household expenditure on water. The study examines how water scarcity constrains residential investment decisions, deters commercial development in poorly served zones, and contributes to disease burden in densely populated wards. Recommendations address infrastructure rehabilitation of existing treatment plants, expansion of distribution networks to underserved areas, introduction of community-based water management models, and better integration of water supply planning into Ilorin's urban development framework. Keywords: Water supply, Urban development, Infrastructure deficit, Ilorin, Service delivery.