• Water security is "the reliable availability of an acceptable quantity and quality of water for health, livelihoods and production, coupled with an acceptable level of water-related risks”(Singha, 2022)
• Common threats to water security is water scarcity, climate change, high population density, low rainfall, and over allocation of a water source (Teixeira et al., 2024).
• Household water security is a crucial aspect of sustainable development that can help to improve living conditions and promote economic growth.
• Water insecurity is a critical global issue impacting communities with limited resources, putting the sustainability of WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure at risk.
• Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is a composite metric that is primarily defined by the availability of safe drinking water, well managed sanitation, and basic hand-washing facilities (Devgade, 2023).
• Access to improved sanitation facilities varies significantly across locations, with flush/pour flush toilets being more common in Saki (47%) than in Iseyin (30%) and Sepeteri (8%).
• Open defecation remains alarmingly prevalent, especially in Sepeteri where 64% of households practice this, compared to 22% in Iseyin and 13% in Saki, indicating severe sanitation challenges.
• Similarly, hygiene facilities were notably deficient in Sepeteri, where 82% of households reported having no designated handwashing station.
• Households across all locations have adopted various coping strategies to address water insecurity, with rainwater collection, household water treatment methods, and water reuse being the most common approaches.
• The study aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 3, 6, 10 and 11 and relates to Water for Sustainable Development theme (Rights to Water and Sanitation sub-theme) of the Congress.
• The study underscores the need for targeted, equity-focused interventions to enhance WASH services in the study area, ensuring that no community is left behind in this vital area of development.
• Government should prioritize Sepeteri for immediate water infrastructure development, with focus on increasing the number of safely managed water sources within household premises.
• Government should establish or develop community sanitation programs in all three locations, with particular emphasis on eliminating open defecation in Sepeteri through construction of basic sanitation facilities.
• Establishment of sanitation service networks for proper emptying and disposal of waste from pit latrines and septic tanks to prevent environmental contamination.