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The short answer
Calabar households get water from the state water board where pipes and pumping work, and otherwise from their own boreholes, commercial borehole points and vendors. The board has blamed irregular supply on diesel costs and vandalised pipes, and no current tariff schedule is published on a page we could find, so ask the board for your bill basis. A public-private partnership signed a $7.5 million deal in June 2026 for 100,000 prepaid water meters in Cross River.
Water in Calabar is a patchwork. Some streets have public taps or house connections that run on some days; many homes depend on a borehole in the compound; others buy from commercial borehole points or from vendors with jerrycans and carts. Each source has a different cost and a different risk. This guide explains what is known about the public supply, how billing is changing, and what boreholes and vendors cost, with labelled examples.
The public supply and why it is irregular
In September 2022, NAN reported (via Peoples Gazette) that the managing director of the Cross River water board, Victor Ekpo, blamed irregular supply on the cost of diesel to run pumps and on vandalised pipes. Residents in parts of Calabar said they had gone almost two years without supply, and the board said residents owed it over ₦1 billion in unpaid bills.
In March 2025, at a World Water Day event reported by Peoples Gazette, Cross River's Commissioner for Water Resources, Bassey Mensah, said the state had nine treatment plants and that the Calabar plant alone could feed four other local government areas. Officials blamed old facilities and open defecation for problems with potable supply, and said a state water bill was awaiting the governor's assent. The report noted residents queuing at commercial borehole points.
Bills and the prepaid meter plan
We could not find a published water tariff for Calabar on an official page. If you receive a water board bill, ask the board in writing whether it is metered or a flat rate, what period it covers and how to pay through an official channel. Pay against a printed bill and keep the receipt.
Billing may change. On 29 June 2026, ThisDay (via allAfrica) reported that Bendoriks International Limited signed a $7.5 million deal with CRS Water Concession SPV Limited, a vehicle for a public-private partnership to rehabilitate and manage public water infrastructure in Cross River, to supply 100,000 ultrasonic prepaid water meters for 100,000 households in a first phase. No tariff rates or installation dates were given. If a meter is offered to you, ask who installs it, whether there is any charge, and how you will buy credit.
Boreholes: what they cost
Borehole costs depend on depth, ground conditions and the pump and tank you choose. The figures below are examples only; get at least two written quotes in Calabar.
| Item | Example cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drilling and casing | ₦800,000 | Varies with depth and soil |
| Submersible pump and wiring | ₦350,000 | Size to your tank and household |
| Tank and stand | ₦300,000 | Plastic tank on a raised stand |
| Water test and treatment | ₦100,000 | Test before drinking |
| Total (example) | ₦1,550,000 |
Running costs matter as much: the pump needs electricity, so a borehole adds to your PHED bill or generator fuel. See PHED tariff bands in Calabar for what each unit costs. Have the water tested before drinking it, and treat or filter it if needed.
Vendors and borehole points: worked example
An example only. A household of four without a borehole buys from a commercial point. Prices vary by street and season.
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Jerrycans needed per day | 10 (25 litres each) |
| Example price per jerrycan | ₦100 |
| Daily cost | ₦1,000 |
| Monthly cost (30 days) | ₦30,000 |
| Yearly cost | ₦360,000 |
At these example figures, the household spends about ₦360,000 a year. A shared borehole for a compound of four households at the example build cost of ₦1,550,000 would be about ₦387,500 each, so it pays back in a little over a year, before power and maintenance. Sharing works only with a written agreement on who pays for repairs and power.
What to check first
- Ask your landlord whether the house has a water board connection and whether any arrears are attached to it.
- If you rely on a borehole, ask when the water was last tested.
- Agree vendor prices in advance and buy from the same trusted point.
- Keep bills and receipts for any water payment.
- If you are renting, ask before you sign whether water costs (borehole power, pump repairs) are shared among tenants, and get the arrangement written into your tenancy agreement.
If the state's water bill becomes law or the prepaid meter roll-out reaches your street, the rules on billing may change. Watch for notices from the Ministry of Water Resources and the water board rather than relying on what collectors tell you at the gate.
Keeping water safe at home
- Clean storage tanks at least a few times a year and keep them covered.
- Site any new borehole well away from soakaways and septic tanks; ask the driller how far it will be.
- Boil or filter water from any source you are not sure of, especially for children.
- Buy sachet or bottled water only with an intact seal and a visible NAFDAC number.
Where Pryme fits
Water and borehole costs are easier to manage with money set aside. A Flexible Savings Box can hold a repair fund, and the Personal Assistant can remind you when the next electricity token for the pump is due. See also the cost of living in Calabar.
Questions people ask
How much is water bill in Calabar?
No current tariff is published on an official page we could find. Ask the Cross River water board in writing whether your bill is metered or flat-rate, and pay only through official channels.
Why is there no water in Calabar?
The board's managing director blamed diesel costs and vandalised pipes in 2022, and officials in 2025 pointed to old facilities. Many households now rely on boreholes and vendors.
Are prepaid water meters coming to Cross River?
ThisDay reported in June 2026 that a $7.5 million deal was signed to supply 100,000 prepaid water meters to CRS Water Concession SPV Limited for a first phase. No installation dates or tariffs were given.
How much does it cost to drill a borehole in Calabar?
It depends on depth and equipment. Our labelled example comes to about ₦1,550,000 for drilling, pump, tank and testing; get at least two written quotes.
Sources
- Peoples Gazette (NAN): Cross River says no diesel to pump water for residents (27 Sep 2022) · accessed Oct 2026
- Peoples Gazette: Open defecation, old facilities frustrating supply of potable water in Cross River, officials (23 Mar 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- allAfrica (ThisDay): C'River project, Bendoriks secures $7.5m deal to supply 100,000 water meters (29 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.