Assessment of Households’ Access to Domestic Water Supply in Keffi Urban Area, Nasarawa State

This study assessed household water accessibility in Keffi, Nigeria, with emphasis on sources, service conditions, consumption, and socioeconomic determinants. A cross-sectional survey of 382 households was conducted using structured questionnaires, and data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that boreholes were the dominant water source (42.9%), followed by private piped connections (18.3%) and vendor/sachet water (16.2%), while government supply accounted for only 14.1%. Although 57.1% of households accessed water within 500 m and 59.6% spent ≤10 minutes reaching sources, only 20.9% had daily supply, indicating poor service reliability. Average water consumption was approximately 85 L/person/day, below the recommended 120 L standard, with 56.6% of households consuming less than 100 L/day. Water affordability was a major concern, as households spent about 10% of income on water, exceeding the 5% benchmark. Access to improved water sources increased significantly with income, from 47.0% among low-income households to 86.5% among high-income groups. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant relationship between income and water accessibility (χ² = 102.38, p < 0.001), with income emerging as the strongest predictor (β = 0.383, p < 0.001; R² = 0.233). Perception analysis revealed general dissatisfaction with water reliability, affordability, and government performance (overall mean = 2.95), alongside strong demand for improved planning (mean = 4.74). The study concludes that water accessibility in Keffi is constrained primarily by service inefficiencies and socioeconomic inequality rather than physical distance, highlighting the need for improved infrastructure and equitable water policies.