Water Demand among Hostel Residents in Tertiary Institutions in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Water is life and living things depend on it for survival. The role water in determining survival has made it remain an inevitable commodity. At the household level, water is needed for several reasons including personal hygiene, food preparation, laundry and drinking   Occupants of hostels in tertiary institutions demand water for the reasons listed above and more hence, the study focused on analysing water demand among hostel occupants in tertiary institutions in Calabar, Nigeria. The study relied on questionnaire in order to obtain data. A total of 400 copies of questionnaire were distribute. Data were further analysed using various statistical approaches such as means, modes, and Pearson product moment correlation based on statistical package for social sciences. The results showed a strong positive relationship between water demand and supply. In other words, it was observed that water consumption is influenced by supply. Equally, the determinants of water demand were observed. It was identified that environmental factors, source of water, population among others influence water consumption. Based on the findings of the study, it was suggested that access to water be improved especially as students in tertiary institutions are likely to increase. Equally, attempts should be made to provide water more frequently for use by the students in the residential halls.

Keywords: Residential hostels, source of water, traveling distance, water consumption, quantity/quality of water