ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON QUALITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF WATER SUPPLY IN MINNA AND ITS ENVIRONS, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Water is the most vital natural resources that nature provides. What we grow, where we live or build depend to a large extent on water and it determine the survival of plant and animal on the earth surface. Therefore there is a strong relationship between man’s activities and water. Access to portable water in Minna has been on continuous decrease since 1980s, on the average, 20% of the inhabitants of the area currently have access to water supply. The problem of inequality of water infrastructural provision remain unsolved, however the rate at which infrastructural services like provision of water is been provided is grossly inadequate in meeting the population demand in Minna. The main aim of this research is to identify, examine and explain various human activities which affect the distribution of water resources and supply in order to ascertain its availability throughout the subsequent years to come. The data for the study were collected through primary and secondary data, which involved questionnaire, oral interview, library materials, and laboratory results of water quality analysis from Niger state water board. Data obtained from the field work and Nigerian meteorological Agency were collrected and analyzed. The results of the study revealed that the availability of water in the study area is affected by human activities, increase in population growth, urbanization and agricultural activities, which result also show that water is mismanaged and absence of full maintenance, there is general reduction of rainfall over the study period (2004 to 2014). On the basis of the present study I recommend that the state and local government involved must establish a state water policy office whose activities will include policies, data collection, policy coordination, project identification, financing, research, control of [point and no-point of population and development.