Household Water Stress, Adaptation and Resilience in Some Selected Peri-urban and Rural Communities of Oyo State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The condition of water infrastructure in selected village communities along peri- urban and rural corridors of Oyo State can be said to be in a state of colossal infrastructural waste and communal neglect. Using a mixed approach, the study examines household water stress and adaptation. Evidence shows that peri-urban villages and rural areas in Oyo State buy water and that water facility maintenance is limited by the high cost of repairs and limited inter-community cooperation. It was also revealed that many households are vulnerable to water-borne diseases owing to a lack of a potable water source. It was revealed 50.4% of the households travel less than 30m to fetch potable water, 17.1% travel between 31 to 60m, while the remaining 32.5% travel over 100m to fetch water. The study suggests that the strategic location of the capital city and LGAs’ headquarters must be considered as this often influences water infrastructure access and availability. The strategic location of infrastructure is considered relevant in the transformation of the selected communities towards sustainability environment and improved liveability. Keywords: Rural Household, Water, Stress, Survival, Adaptation.