Dirty Water and Dangerous Habits: Kaduna’s Sanitation Woes Demand Urgent Action

A new study reveals that most residents in Kaduna, Nigeria, rely on unsafe water sources and practice poor waste disposal, posing serious public health risks. Researchers urge urgent infrastructure investment and public education to prevent a looming environmental and health crisis.

A comprehensive new study has revealed a sobering public health emergency unfolding in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria. Conducted by researchers from the Air Force Institute of Technology (Nigeria), the National Open University of Nigeria, Texas Christian University (USA), and Mansoura University (Egypt), the study explores the links between community water sources, waste disposal practices, and public health. Published in Cleaner Waste Systems, the research warns that unless urgent action is taken, Kaduna could face devastating health and environmental consequences due to its crumbling sanitation infrastructure and widespread use of contaminated water.

A Thirst for Safety: Kaduna’s Water Woes

Water is a fundamental human necessity, but for many in Kaduna, it remains a dangerous daily gamble. The study reveals that a staggering 92% of villagers rely on untreated water for drinking, with 43% sourcing their water directly from rivers and streams, and another 49% depending on shallow hand-dug wells. These sources are prone to contamination, especially from human and household waste. Treated water is virtually non-existent in these rural areas.

Semi-urban communities fare slightly better, but challenges remain. While over half use hand-dug wells, 35.6% rely on boreholes, and only 5.3% have access to treated water. In urban areas, 67.6% of residents draw water from boreholes, and 11.7% use treated water , the highest proportion among the three zones, yet still alarmingly low. When averaged across all areas surveyed, only 5.7% of the population drinks treated water, leaving the vast majority exposed to potential disease from unsafe supplies.

No Place for Waste: A Landfill Crisis

Waste management in Kaduna is in a state of disrepair. The study found that 56.3% of waste , both domestic and municipal , ends up in open dumpsites or informal landfills. No engineered or sanitary landfills were found in any of the areas surveyed, underscoring the lack of proper waste infrastructure. This is a significant threat to environmental health, especially in urban areas where population density accelerates waste generation.

One particularly dangerous trend is the burning of waste, practiced by 46.9% of rural residents and still common in semi-urban and urban centers. This not only pollutes the air but poses severe respiratory risks. Additionally, around 7.3% of the population dumps waste directly into water bodies like rivers and gutters, contributing to the ongoing contamination of surface and groundwater sources.

These practices are not only environmentally damaging but also pose serious risks to public health. Without proper waste treatment, pathogens from solid and liquid waste seep into the water table, creating a feedback loop of contamination and disease.

The Sanitation Divide: Open Defecation Still Common

Perhaps the most shocking revelation in the study is the persistence of open defecation , particularly in rural areas. Over half (52.4%) of villagers still relieve themselves in the open. Pit latrines are used by 38.8% of rural residents, but access to flush-based water systems remains extremely limited, with just 8.8% using them.

Semi-urban and urban areas show a marked improvement. In the cities, 80.4% use water-based systems, though only a small fraction treat these systems, making them only marginally safer. Across the entire population surveyed, just 3.2% use treated sanitation systems , an alarming statistic considering the population density in urban areas and the risk of wastewater recontaminating water sources.

Cultural preferences play a surprising role in this crisis. Over 69% of those who practice open defecation do so by choice, not due to a lack of infrastructure. This, the authors argue, points to widespread environmental indiscipline, a behavioral challenge rooted in apathy, misinformation, and insufficient public education.

Environmental Indiscipline and the Risk of Collapse

Beyond infrastructure deficits, the study points to systemic behavioral and policy failures. Environmental indiscipline , defined as the persistent neglect of safe sanitation and waste practices , is deeply entrenched across many parts of Kaduna. Poor public awareness, weak enforcement of sanitation laws, and economic constraints all contribute to the crisis.

The consequences are dire. The combination of untreated waste, contaminated water, and poor hygiene habits is fueling a potential epidemic of preventable diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea. The study notes that over 73% of diarrheal and enteric illnesses are linked to poor water, sanitation, and hygiene. Without intervention, local health systems risk being overwhelmed.

The researchers argue that this issue is not confined to rural areas. Even in cities where infrastructure exists, the absence of maintenance, monitoring, and public buy-in renders many systems ineffective. The result is a situation where environmental degradation accelerates unchecked, threatening long-term ecological and human health.

A Call for Action: Fixing a Broken System

The study doesn’t just diagnose the problem , it offers a roadmap for solutions. At the core is a call for multi-pronged intervention. The authors advocate for substantial investments in water treatment facilities, engineered landfills, and public toilets , particularly in underserved rural and semi-urban communities.

But infrastructure alone won’t be enough. There’s also a need for robust public education campaigns to shift attitudes around sanitation and waste. Changing behaviors and cultural norms, the researchers argue, is essential to building lasting environmental responsibility. This includes strengthening the enforcement of environmental laws, incentivizing proper waste disposal, and promoting community-led sanitation initiatives.

In short, the study is a wake-up call , not only for Kaduna, but for other parts of Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa facing similar challenges. It makes clear that public health, environmental protection, and sustainable development are inseparably linked. If water is life, then Kaduna’s future depends on cleaning up its water, its waste, and its collective environmental conscience.