Residents of Enugu are grappling with a worsening water scarcity that is stretching household budgets, straining public health, and testing confidence in governance.
Almost three years after assurances by the current administration that potable water would flow in every home within 180 days, taps across many areas of the metropolis remain dry.
Many people living in Enugu State have raised alarm over water scarcity and the absence of potable water.
They called on the Enugu State Government to urgently come to their aid, explaining how the situation is affecting them and their families.
EnuguDaily visited several areas to speak with residents about water shortage. From Achara Layout to Maryland, Ugwuaji, and Presidential Road, the story is the same.
Broken Promises, Dry Taps
During the last electoral cycle, Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party pledged a rapid restoration of public water infrastructure. However, investigations across neighborhoods including Independence Layout, Achara Layout, Trans-Ekulu, and Abakpa revealed a different reality. Boreholes and wells are fast drying up, and water vendors now dominate supply chains.
Many households report going months without a single drop from public pipes. In some compounds, families ration well water, allocating specific buckets per household daily. In densely populated areas, tenants queue at dawn to fetch limited supplies before wells run low by midday.
Residents of Ubaka in Achara Layout, in Enugu South Local Government Area, said they are suffering due to water scarcity.
One resident, Chinonso Edeh, explained: “The way we fetch water now is that one person fetches today, another person tomorrow. Our building has 24 flats, but only one person is allowed to fetch water per day. When I was younger, water used to run throughout Achara Layout.”
Kelechukwu Udeh said there is no water in Ugwuaji and described the hardship residents face before getting water.
“The place I come to buy water is here in Ugwuaji. We wait up to three hours at water-selling points before it gets to our turn.”
The Cost of Survival
Beyond scarcity lies affordability. With public supply largely absent, private vendors have stepped in. A 25-litre jerrycan that once sold at modest rates now costs significantly more. For low-income earners, daily water expenses rival food budgets.
Residents decry spending hours in queues, time that could otherwise be invested in economic activities. Artisans, traders, and civil servants say productivity has declined as mornings are devoted to sourcing water rather than earning income.
One resident interviewed by EnuguDaily who gave her name as Stacey Nwakaego, described the situation in Maryland.
According to her, “We don’t have access to clean water in Maryland. A bucket of water costs ₦250 — imagine how much you would need to buy. Most of the boreholes here produce dirty water. We have been promised that water will run, but we haven’t seen anything. We are begging the government to help us because water is our major problem.”
Public Health Risks
Health experts warn that reliance on untreated well water raises concerns about waterborne diseases. Some residents admit they cannot afford purification tablets or electricity bill to boil water regularly. With the dry season intensifying, groundwater levels continue to recede, worsening the crisis.
Stacey Nwakaego further explained how the lack of clean water affects households, especially children. She said the available water is not suitable for cooking because it is not clean.
“It’s not good for washing clothes, let alone cooking or bathing. We now use sachet (‘pure’) water to bathe and cook. We want the government to provide us with water that is safe for our health. Give us water and we won’t have any complaints.”
Infrastructure Questions
Findings indicate that key waterworks facilities in the state have either been operating below capacity or remain under rehabilitation. Critics argue that systemic neglect, aging pipelines, and inconsistent power supply have compounded the problem.
Despite repeated complaints, there appears to be limited transparency regarding timelines for full restoration. Residents are now calling for a public audit of the state’s water infrastructure projects, budget allocations, and implementation milestones.
A Basic Human Need
Residents insist that water is not a luxury but a fundamental human necessity. They are urging the state government to treat the issue as an emergency, provide clear timelines, regulate vendor pricing, and prioritize sustainable water infrastructure.
For now, in the Coal City, survival depends not on turning a tap but on endurance, improvisation, and the daily search for water.
Government Response
A government official who did not want his name mentioned as he was not authorized to speak for the government , said the government is making efforts to fix damaged water distribution facilities in the state.
Although the official did not disclose specific details about what was damaged, he assured that the government is working to restore regular water supply across the state.
It is hoped that with the fulfilment its promise to make water run every home in the state, the perennial water challenges in Enugu State will be a thing of the past and residents will once again heave a sigh of relief.
