Evaluating Water Quality and Supply Challenges in Rural Communities of Kwara State

Access to clean and reliable water supply remains one of the most pressing development challenges facing rural communities in Nigeria's North Central geopolitical zone, where a significant proportion of the population relies on unprotected surface water and shallow wells with compromised quality. This study evaluates water quality and supply adequacy in 24 rural communities across three local government areas in Kwara State: Irepodun, Oke Ero, and Isin. Water samples were collected from boreholes, hand-dug wells, streams, and harvested rainwater sources at each community during both dry and rainy seasons in 2023. Physicochemical and bacteriological analyses were conducted at the Kwara State Water Corporation laboratory, testing parameters including turbidity, pH, total dissolved solids, nitrate, coliform bacteria, and faecal indicators. Household survey data from 360 respondents captured information on water source usage, daily water fetching distance and time, health incidence linked to waterborne disease, and willingness to pay for improved supply. Results indicate that 67 percent of tested samples from surface sources fail to meet WHO and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality guidelines, primarily due to faecal contamination and elevated turbidity during the rainy season. The average daily water collection time of 45 minutes disproportionately burdens women and school-aged girls. The study recommends prioritised borehole rehabilitation, chlorination treatment, and community water user committee establishment as immediate interventions. Keywords: water quality, rural water supply, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria, sanitation.