Urban Public Water Supply and Environmental Health Implications for Sustainable Development Goal 6 in Enugu, Nigeria

Access to safe and reliable water remains a major challenge in many rapidly urbanising cities in Nigeria, with significant implications for environmental health and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). This study examined urban public water supply in Enugu, Nigeria, focusing on its adequacy, reliability, and environmental health implications, as well as the institutional, infrastructural, and socioeconomic factors influencing equitable and sustainable access to safe water. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, combining questionnaire administration to urban residents with interviews and field observations. The sample size of 400 respondents was determined from a population of 1,029,400 people using Taro Yamane formula. Quantitative data were analysed using frequency, mean and linear regression, while qualitative data were thematically analysed. Findings indicate that public water supply services in Enugu urban are largely inadequate and unreliable, with most indicators failing to align with SDG 6 standards. Inadequate water supply was found to significantly exacerbate environmental health risks, including increased incidence of waterborne diseases, poor hygiene practices, and unsafe household water storage, particularly in low-income and informal settlements. Institutional weaknesses, insufficient infrastructure investment, poor maintenance, and household income disparities further constrain equitable and sustainable access to safe water. The study concludes that persistent gaps between water policy objectives and service delivery undermine progress toward SDG 6 in Enugu urban. It recommends strengthened institutional coordination, increased investment in water infrastructure, improved maintenance regimes, and targeted pro-poor water policies to enhance environmental health outcomes and ensure sustainable urban water access.