A Sociological Analysis of Coping Strategies of Samaru Residents on Poor Water Supply
CHAPTER ONE
Aim and Objective of the study
The aim of the research is to assess the coping strategies of Samaru residents on poor water supply. The objectives of this research are to;
- To know the nature of water supply in Samaru.
- To assess the consequences of poor water supply on Samaru residents.
- To find out the coping strategies adopted by Samaru residents in managing the problems of the poor water supply in the Community.
- To suggest possible solutions to the problem of poor water supply in the Community.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORITICAL FRAME WORK
Introduction
This chapter reviews relevant literatures on the Sociological Analysis of Coping Strategies of Samaru residents on Poor Water Supply. The review is done based on the objectives of the study which are: nature of poor water supply in Samaru, consequences of poor water supply on Samaru residents, coping strategies adopted by Samaru residents in managing the problems of the poor water supply in the community and possible solutions to the problem of poor water supply in the community. A theoretical framework that best explain the topic of the research was used.
Nature of Poor Water Supply
Within few decades ago, there have been efforts to increase provision of domestic water for both rural and urban homes. However, water is still unavailable to many mainly those located in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and East Asia (Ellen & Kellog, 2005). Furthermore, the availability of water varies greatly, while some people pay so dearly for domestic water, others have an easy access to adequate clean water and sanitation due to their location and social status in the society (Hunter et al., 2009). According to Annan, (2003) portable water is precious, we cannot live without it and human activities have profound impact on the quality and quantity of water available. Domestic water is used for drinking, cooking, bathing and cleaning, however, access to safe drinking and sanitation is critical in terms of health.
Efforts are being made by the developed nations to increase provision of domestic water and sanitation, but no serious efforts are made by the developing nations to meet this target. Rural communities in many developing nations have to obtain their drinking water from untreated surface sources, often situated far away from their residence. For instance, in many Nigeria rural communities, water supply infrastructures are still at developmental stage or are completely absent (Rossiter et al., 2010).
After almost sixty years of water supply development in Nigeria, it is regrettable that only 60% of the population has access to safe drinking water, and in rural areas less than 50% of the households have access to good portable water (National Millennium Development Goals Report, 2005). Rural people in the country still depend very much on rivers, streams, ponds, and shallow wells for their water needs. During the dry season, some of these sources dry up and households have to invest a substantial amount of their resources to get water of doubtful quality. Residents of Zaria, in Kaduna state resorted to hand dug wells, boreholes, water vendors, and even streams as a result of water scarcity. Those that bought water from water vendors complained of high costs of water especially in a large family that depend on water vendors.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter highlights the method in which data was collected for investigating the phenomenon under this study. These includes location of the study, population of the study, methods of data collections, sampling techniques, and methods of data analysis and field work experiences.
Research Design
A research design refers to the procedures used by the researcher to explore the relationship between variables from subjects into groups, administer measures in relation to the groups and analyse the data. According to Orodho (2004), descriptive survey design is a technique in which detailed information concerning a social phenomenon is gathered by posing questions to respondents. The method that will be used to carry out this research is called the survey method. This is one form of descriptive research that is aimed at collecting large and small samples from a population in order to examine the distribution, incidence, and interaction of sociological phenomenon (Denga and Ali 2002). Surveys comprise series of questions asked to a number of people. Sometimes the questions are asked orally, either face to face or over the phone (interview). Other times, people are giving lists of questions on paper and asked to write in their own answer (questionnaire). In other words, the method will be based on the selection of samples from large population to obtain empirical knowledge of a contemporary nature. The knowledge that had been gathered using this design could be used to make acceptable generalization about the whole population from which the sample had been drawn. The survey method is a strategy used to find the meaning and obtained understanding of present conditions, attitudes, opinions, beliefs and so on. It stressed the importance of understanding properly the situation in order to know the directions on what follows and how to get there. In this research, survey research will be used.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
Introduction
This chapter shows a presentation of data analysis and interpretation. This chapter also presents answers to the research questions formulated for this study. Out of hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires distributed I was only able to retrieve one hundred and seventeen (117).
This chapter is divided into two sections. First section gives us detailed description of the socio-demographic variables of the respondents, while the second section tries to answer the both the research question and aimed objective posed in chapter one. The information gathered through questionnaire is grouped in relation to the research questions and objectives.
The chapter main objectives of the research is to assess the coping strategies of Samaru residents on poor water supply. The objectives of this research are to:
- To know the nature of water supply in Samaru.
- To assess the consequences of poor water on Samaru residents.
- To find out the coping strategies adopted by Samaru residents in managing the problems of the poor water supply in the community.
- To suggest possible solution to the problem of poor water supply in the community
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
This chapter deals with summary and conclusion based on the data analysed and results presented in the preceding chapters. In view of the findings of this study, recommendation is made for further studies. The study investigated the sociological analysis of coping strategies of Samaru residents on poor water supply.
Summary
Based on the findings of this study, the following summaries were drawn.
- The nature of water supply gotten in Samaru is rated very poor, and most of the areas survive on boreholes and wells instead of pipe borne water.
- The research proves that due to the nature of poor water supply in Samaru community, residents of the community lack of access to good drinking water which makes them prune and open to disease outbreak such as typhoid, cholera and so on.
- The effect of water supply in Samaru is drastic and merely satisfactory.
- The community lacks access to the government and even the local authority in repairing or even replacing the already laid down facilities put in place like broken pipes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study investigated the sociological analysis of coping strategies of Samaru residents on poor water supply. From the findings of the study, it was concluded that the nature of poor water supply in Samaru community is as a result of government negligence in repairing and replacing the already laid down facilities by previous governments in providing good water for the community.
To be precise, poor water supply in Samaru community has negative influence on the health of the residents in that community. This is because it has resulted to diseases such as typhoid, cholera and so on, due to the fact that they lack access to good water supply, and the source of the water gotten are from water vendors (which are mostly unknown, a times the water are usually colourful and has odour) and well water which are exposed because it’s the whole community that uses it.
The acceptance of the research question three (3) on the coping strategies adopted by Samaru residents on poor supply was based on the result that the community mainly survives on boreholes and water vendors. It is important to note that the residence of Samaru community (Hayin-Dogo, Hayin-Danyaro, Pensioner quarters and Anyugan Gwaiba), as a case study, has relied more on boreholes for their water supply.
Recommendations
Based on this background, the researcher makes the following recommendations:
- The government should make sure they are actively involved in the communities activities in providing good water supply because findings shows that diseases are spread as a result of poor water supply.
- The government should also endeavour to set up committee’s to monitor the progress of the projects of water supply in the community to stop failed projects.
- The local authorities on the other hand should walk hand in hand with the community leaders in order to know when they need help.
- Lastly more boreholes should be provided to the communities in order to reduce the outbreak of diseases and epidemics.
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