JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Safe and reliable access to clean water remains a fundamental determinant of public health and sustainable development. In many rapidly urbanizing Nigerian communities, dependence on self-sourced groundwater and inadequate waste management systems continues to compromise water quality and expose residents to preventable diseases. This study investigated the status of water supply, quality, and associated health outcomes in Uselu Community, Benin City, to provide evidence-based insights for policy and intervention.

Objective:

The study aimed to (1) assess the primary sources of water available to residents, (2) evaluate household water-storage and treatment practices, and (3) examine the public-health implications of inadequate water access and sanitation behaviour in the community.

Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 100 adult residents of Uselu Community selected through random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires covering socio-demographics, water sources, treatment habits, sanitation practices, and self-reported waterborne diseases. Field observations complemented survey data, and results were presented as frequencies and percentages. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze trends, and findings were compared against national and international WASH benchmarks.

Results:

Findings revealed that 56% of respondents relied on boreholes as their main water source, while only 31% had access to public pipe-borne supply. Although 89% regularly washed their storage containers, fewer than half (43%) treated water by boiling or filtration, and only 17% practiced chlorination. About 32% reported disposing of waste near water sources, increasing contamination risks. The most common illnesses were typhoid fever (47%) and cholera (30%), with over half (55%) of respondents experiencing recurrent water shortages. These results indicate persistent infrastructural inadequacies, limited treatment adoption, and significant exposure to waterborne diseases.

Conclusions:

The study highlights critical water-supply and quality challenges in Uselu Community, driven by poor infrastructure, weak waste management, and inconsistent household treatment practices. Ensuring safe water access requires coordinated interventions combining infrastructural expansion, community hygiene education, and sustainable groundwater management. Strengthen municipal water systems, establish periodic water-quality monitoring, enforce sanitation regulations, and promote affordable household treatment technologies through continuous public-health education and community engagement. This study demonstrates that unsafe water and poor sanitation behaviours are central drivers of disease in Uselu Community. By translating evidence into actionable interventions, the research provides a model for improving public health, environmental sustainability, and water security in similar peri-urban settings.