Performance Evaluation of a Public Water Supply Infrastructure in Enugu State

This research evaluates the performance of public water supply infrastructure in selected distribution zones of Enugu State, South East Nigeria, applying industrial engineering performance assessment frameworks to a public utility context. Reliable water supply infrastructure is a fundamental determinant of public health and industrial productivity, yet many Nigerian urban water distribution systems operate at substantially reduced performance levels relative to their design specifications due to aging infrastructure, inadequate maintenance, and commercial losses. This study employs a performance benchmarking framework adapted from the International Water Association's Performance Indicators for Water Supply Services, measuring ten key performance indicators across operational, financial, and service quality dimensions. Data were obtained from the Enugu State Water Corporation's operational records, customer complaint logs, and physical network survey data collected during a twelve-week field assessment. Results reveal a non-revenue water rate of sixty-seven percent, substantially exceeding the international benchmark range of fifteen to twenty-five percent, and an average service continuity of nine hours per day against a design target of twenty-four hours. The most significant performance gap is identified in the network rehabilitation and investment dimension, reflecting decades of deferred maintenance expenditure. Recommendations prioritise a phased district metering programme, accelerated leak detection and repair, and a cost-recovery tariff review. Keywords: water supply infrastructure, performance evaluation, non-revenue water, Enugu State, utility management