Decreasing Access to Water and Coping Strategies for Shortage in the Informal Settlements of Calabar, Nigeria

Calabar is a city in which 65 per cent of people live in poverty in informal settlements that have low and decreasing access to improved water. In the low-income informal areas of the city, residents are being made responsible for securing their own water supply through the use of several coping strategies. This paper explores the decreasing access to water and coping strategies for shortage in Calabar, Nigeria. It analyses two complementary pieces of data: (i) the households’ coping strategies and (ii) satisfaction with improved water services. A mixed method was introduced, and data were collected via fieldwork at three settlements in Calabar. A household survey of 360 respondents and 27 in-depth interviews were undertaken, and focus groups were conducted. The findings show that households engaged in different coping strategies with which to access water, including conservation (changing routine/reusing), purchasing (spending a significant proportion of their income on buying water) and pumping. The household’s tenure, socioeconomic status and water accessibility determine their decision to move if services are not provided. A crucial differentiation exists between a larger population being granted less access to water versus certain individuals receiving access to a greater quantity of water. The study suggests that improved access to water be secured by mainstreaming approaches and policy interventions that align with the needs of marginalized informal residents and by concerted efforts to effectively manage the water supply for sustainable development.