Accessibility to WASH and waste management services in African urban informal settlements: A comparative analysis

Abstract

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The study investigates the existing scenario and spatial distribution pattern disparity of service distribution of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and waste management services (WMS) in urban informal settlements within the Zaria metropolis and generates recommendations for the policymakers for improvements. The study highlights challenges in urban settlements, including insufficient water, sanitation, and waste services, contributing to diseases like diarrhea and cholera. It stresses the importance of better water quality, sanitation, and waste management, and highlights the impact of governance and policies on service gaps. It also suggests using collaborative methods and technologies like GIS for solutions, employing GIS and statistics to analyze service availability and access for residents. The findings underscore the dominant role of the private sector in water treatment plant distribution (71.43%) over public facilities (28.57%). It highlights disparities in toilet types between public and private spaces: pit toilets (55.11%) are prevalent in public restrooms, while the data indicate that most water sources are poorly maintained: Only 0.50% of boreholes are newly constructed, while a significant 43.15% are poorly maintained, and 30.62% are well maintained. Moreover, private toilets are predominantly pit toilets, constituting 3.11% of the total, with no water closets toilets reported.