Strategies for coping with inadequate domestic water supply in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

This article explores household strategies for coping with inadequate domestic water supply in Abuja, and the factors that affect strategy choice. In-depth interviews found that water storage (90%), bottled and sachet water (82%), water vendors (78%) and fetching water from neighbours (60%) were prefered for coping with inadequate water supply over water conservation and recycling (38%), boreholes (23%), home water treatment (15%), and surface water (10%). The necessity of water, costs of coping strategies, housing characteristics, socio-economic factors and planning regulations influenced household choice of strategies.