PERCEPTION OF FARMERS AND RURAL DWELLERS ON WATER QUALITY AND ACCESSIBILITY IN ODEDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

BSc. Israel Oyetunde

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Nigeria’s Government has shown commitment to international water security goals like SDG 6. The research investigates the perception of rural dwellers in Odeda Local Government Area (LGA), Ogun State, Nigeria on water accessibility and quality. Using a mixed-methods approach for data collection the data set includes household survey (n=152) and in situ water sample analysis (n=16). Descriptive statistics and two probit regression models were used to examine the determinants of water quality perception, focusing on two binary outcomes: i. the belief that storage containers affect water quality and ii. the perceived need for water treatment regardless of water clarity. The descriptive results show that despite the SDG 6 commitment, rural communities remain heavily dependent on unprotected water sources such as hand-dug wells (66% of respondents) and surface water (56.2%), which are prone to contamination from microbial pathogens and heavy metals. The probit model regarding water storage show that more educated and married respondents using extension services and social media, are more aware of water quality. The results of the second probit model on water treatment need awareness showed that socioeconomic factors, particularly education and income, and access to extension agent positively influenced perceptions on need of water treatment. The in-situ water quality analysis revealed large disparities between perceived and actual water quality. While 91.4% of respondents rated their water as "good" or "excellent," laboratory tests showed elevated turbidity (exceeding WHO limits), salinity, and microbial risks. In particular the turbidity results raise significant concerns, as they far exceed the WHO water quality standard of 5 NTU. Groundwater samples collected from the study area show turbidity levels ranging from 8 to 319 NTU, greatly surpassing the recommended limit and contradicting the respondents' claims about their water sources. Surface water exhibits even higher turbidity levels, ranging from 413 to 1120 NTU, clearly indicating that the water is unfit for consumption. Gender disparities regarding water collection were evident, with women bearing the primary burden, spending up to 1 hour daily fetching water. The study highlights the lack of water quality and safety awareness, and this underscores the need for community-based solutions, integrating local knowledge, education importance, continuous awareness, with infrastructural investments to improve water security.

Keywords

water access, water quality, Ogun State, Nigeria, information behaviour, water treatment

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 27. 4. 2025

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 5. 6. 2025
• Supervisor: doc. Ing. Miroslava Bavorová, Ph.D.
• Reader: Bulus Barnabas, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme:
Agri-food Systems and Rural Development