Abstract

Nigeria has abundant water resources. This natural endowment is evident in the yearly rainfall and large surface bodies of water-rivers, streams as well as abundant reservoirs of underground water. However, because of lack of good developmental policy, the rational use of the water resources still poses problems and challenges in most states of the country. For some time now these water problems have been left with the River Basin development authorities with little success, primarily because of lack of good management and best practices, despite huge sum of money spent. Although there are surplus surface and underground water resources within the Anambra basin, basic water supply for domestic and industrial use have been in very short supply for the teeming 5 million population despite the fact that government through international programmes like the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), UNICEF, EU has done a lot to aid water supply. This paper is timely because of a recent introduction of a major regional water supply project earmarked to take off in Onitsha, the industrial and commercial hub of Anambra. It is expected that the quantity and quality of water would improve with this project to be financed by the government in urban areas of Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi. Published as well as unpublished secondary sources were used to present the access to drinking water in Anambra State. Reform efforts are currently going on in the state and a review of the reform reveals the effects of political and economic challenges on the existing strategies.

Key words: Urban water, water reforms, sustainability, sectors