Analysis and Depiction of Accessibility Levels of Water Supply Schemes in Rural Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study analyzed and depicted accessibility levels of water schemes in rural areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Data on rural water schemes, population data as well as a community map of the study area were utilized. GIS technique was employed in creating a database of water schemes and the spatial distribution of the water schemes displayed on the map of the study area. Based on the criteria stipulated in the National Water Supply and Sanitation Policy for Nigeria, percentage rural water accessibility map was computed and analysed using ArcMap extension. Findings revealed the discrepancies in the sitting of water facilities and gradual phasing out of handpump boreholes to mini water schemes. Lack of community boundary map is a setback to rural water scheme implementation. Percentage access to safe water supply was found to be very low. It is recommended that the state government should set up Water Supply Technical Committee to regulate water supply programmes with the mandate of redesigning water schemes in line with the national policy standard.