Water Shortages: Jigawa residents revive rainwater harvesting

Some residents of Kazaure Local Government Area of Jigawa have revived the traditional practice of harvesting rainwater to supplement their household water supply.

The residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that many families now collect and store rainwater during the rainy season for cooking, washing and other domestic purposes.

They said the practice had become important in helping households cope with water shortages when other sources were inadequate.

Mrs Rabi’a Musa, a resident, said many households had returned to rainwater harvesting because it provided an affordable and readily available source of water.

She said families usually kept containers ready to collect rainfall, adding that the stored water helped ease the burden of sourcing water.

“Rainwater is very useful because it is readily available during the rainy season and reduces the difficulty of getting water from other sources,” she said.

Similarly, Zainab Abdullahi said rainwater harvesting had become common because of its value in supporting household activities.

She advised residents to ensure proper storage and handling of harvested rainwater to maintain its cleanliness and safety.

Another resident, Maryam Muhammad, said rainwater harvesting was an age-old tradition that many families were reviving due to growing water challenges.

She said many households now kept large containers and other storage facilities to preserve rainwater for future use.

“Rainwater harvesting was practised by our forefathers, and many people are returning to it because it helps during difficult times,” she said.

Also, Malka Ibrahim said she collected and preserved the first rainfall of the season because of her belief in its traditional medicinal value.

She said the water was kept for use whenever the need arose.

The residents urged relevant authorities to expand access to sustainable water facilities while promoting safe rainwater harvesting as a supplementary source of water for households.

NAN reports that access to reliable and safe water remains a major challenge in Nigeria, especially in rural communities.

Recent UNICEF data shows that only about 30 per cent of Nigerians have access to safely managed drinking water services; water that is available when needed, accessible on premises and free from contamination.

As a result, many households rely on alternative sources such as boreholes, wells, rivers, streams, water vendors and rainwater, especially in areas where public water systems are unavailable or unreliable.

To address the challenge, the Federal Government has implemented initiatives including the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme and the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH).

The programmes are aimed at improving access to sustainable water services by supporting water infrastructure development, strengthening service delivery and promoting better management of water systems across the country.

However, the extent to which these interventions have translated into consistent and reliable water supply for communities remains a subject of concern. (NAN)