Analyses of Water Supply Characteristics for Domestic and Livestock Uses in Lala District of Gombi Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of water supply for domestic and livestock uses in Lala District of Gombi Local Government Area (LGA), Adamawa State, Nigeria. Questionnaires, oral interviews and visual observations were used to generate data on sources water supply, distance traveled to collect water, time spent fetching water and different water uses. It was revealed that most of the inhabitants depend on hand pump boreholes (37.0%), water vendors (25.5%), hand dug wells (15%), streams (13%) and public overhead tanks (9.5%). Thirty four percent of the respondents traveled less than 1000 m, 33% traveled 500 m, while another 12.5% traveled more than 200 m to collect water. Only 20% traveled about 100 m to collect water from their hand-dug wells, boreholes and taps. Forty five percent of inhabitants fetch water at no specific time, 34.5% in the mornings, 11% in the afternoons and 9.5% in the evenings. Seasonal variations in the water table within the study area, leads marked shortage of portable water, especially during the dry season. The findings indicated that water was used essentially for human consumption, laundry, cooking, and for livestock. Water supply in the area was however insufficient and irregular for both human and livestock uses.