Lagos warns against use of unsafe water

The Lagos State Government has moved to tighten oversight of water production and distribution, warning that unsafe water practices pose growing threats to public health and the environment across the state.

The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, Oluwabukola Adeyemo, issued the warning during a one-day community sensitisation and public engagement with water service stakeholders in Epe.

 Adeyemo said the engagement was designed to address the dangers of untreated water, indiscriminate borehole drilling and poor hygiene practices, stressing that regulation and cooperation were now critical in a fast-growing megacity like Lagos.

 “This programme is not merely a regulatory exercise; it is a collaborative platform designed to strengthen partnerships, deepen understanding, and foster responsible practices across the entire water value chain,” she said.

She explained that despite being surrounded by water, Lagosians could not consume most available water sources without proper treatment due to salt content, contaminants and heavy metals, noting that reliance on poorly sited boreholes had increased the risk of waterborne diseases.

 “Water is life, but unsafe water is a silent threat,” Adeyemo said, adding that “the physical appearance of water does not guarantee its safety or potability, and poor handling and inadequate treatment expose citizens to diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever and diarrhoea.”

She added that ensuring safe water would not only protect public health but also reduce pressure on already stretched medical facilities, noting that the daily water requirement in Lagos is estimated at 135 litres per person.

Beyond health concerns, Adeyemo warned of the environmental consequences of unregulated groundwater extraction, including land subsidence and damage to roads and buildings.

 “Excessive and unregulated abstraction of groundwater can lead to land subsidence, increased flooding risks and permanent damage to our aquifers. Once an aquifer is damaged, it cannot easily be restored,” she stated.

 She said the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission regulates the activities of borehole drillers, sachet and bottled water producers, tanker operators and other providers to ensure public safety, urging stakeholders to see quality and compliance as a duty, not a choice.

 Adeyemo noted that the state government, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, was expanding access to pipe-borne water through the rehabilitation and expansion of waterworks across the state.

Culled from punch