International Journal of Water Resources Engineering
Sustainable Groundwater Exploitation: A Case Study of Ado-Ekiti Community in Southwestern Nigeria
Lecturer, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Abstract
Sustainable groundwater management practices in Ado-Ekiti are vital to ensure the long-term
availability of clean and reliable water resources for the community. Ado-Ekiti, like many other regions,
relies heavily on groundwater for its water supply. This paper aims to examine the current groundwater
exploitation practices in Ado-Ekiti and propose sustainable strategies for managing this vital resource.
The study explores geological and geographical factors affecting groundwater availability, water
quality, community involvement, governmental regulations, innovative technologies, economic
considerations, and the challenges and solutions to ensure sustainable groundwater exploitation.
Integrated investigations involving remote sensing and GIS were carried out with the primary aim of
optimizing sustainable groundwater development in Ado-Ekiti, a region located in the southwestern
part of Nigeria characterized by a challenging hard rock terrain for groundwater exploration. These
studies have contributed to a better understanding of the region's hydrogeological conditions, water
quality, and the dynamics of groundwater availability. However, the increasing population due to the
three common academic institutions namely, ABUAD, EKSU and Federal Polytechnic and expanding
urban area pose challenges to the sustainability of groundwater resources in the region. Efficient water
resource utilization can be realized by strengthening existing water management institutions and
enforcing regulations more rigorously. There is need to encourage the use of alternative water sources,
such as rainwater harvesting, surface water reservoirs, and treated wastewater for non-potable
purposes, reducing the reliance on groundwater.
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