Water and Sanitation Challenges in BruderHilfe Project Communities

Access to clean water and proper sanitation is a critical component of community development. At BruderHilfe, we assess the water poverty level in every community we work with—measuring availability, affordability, and quality of water—to determine intervention strategies that improve health and quality of life.

Ajegunle-Ikorodu, Lagos State

Ajegunle-Ikorodu, an informal settlement under Kosofe Local Government, is home to over 18,000 residents. Despite its density, the community faces significant water and sanitation challenges due to lack of urban planning:

• No potable water infrastructure; residents rely on a few private boreholes, wells, or public boreholes that lack purification systems.
• Sanitation problems are rampant, with open drains, overflowing gutters, and no stormwater embankments, causing annual flooding.
• Public facilities are absent; there is no community toilet, and open defecation occurs in some areas.

The lack of clean water and proper sanitation increases household expenses for low-income residents and exposes them to waterborne diseases, including cholera, dysentery, and typhoid.

Dutsi and Kusada, Katsina State

Rural communities in the Dutsi and Kusada Local Government Areas face similar challenges:

• Residents depend on ponds, streams, or sparsely available boreholes for drinking, cooking, and sanitation.
• Household sanitation is inadequate; most homes lack toilets, using makeshift bathrooms, and open defecation is common.
• No drainage systems exist, contributing to poor sanitation and heightened health risks.

Why Water and Sanitation Matter

Without reliable water and sanitation infrastructure:

• Families incur higher costs buying water from private sources.
• Poor hygiene and sanitation practices increase the risk of epidemics and disease.
• Communities struggle to maintain a healthy living environment, undermining broader development goals.

At BruderHilfe, we prioritize interventions that provide safe water, hygiene education, and sanitation facilities to our communities, enabling residents to live healthier, more productive lives. Clean water and proper sanitation are not just basic needs—they are foundations for empowerment and sustainable development.