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The short answer
Much of Enugu was without reliable pipe-borne water for decades; BusinessDay's 2023 report described the metropolis reconnecting after more than 30 years. The 9th Mile and Oji-River schemes inaugurated from November 2023 were reported to supply about 120 million litres a day, but areas such as parts of Abakpa still depend on tankers and boreholes where pipes are old, broken or not yet extended; tanker and borehole costs below are labelled examples.
Why water has been scarce
For years, much of Enugu relied on water vendors, tankers and private boreholes because the public network had decayed. Drilling a borehole is a large outlay, and depth varies from site to site, which is why many households buy tanker water instead. Dense, fast-growing areas such as Abakpa Nike, Emene and parts of Trans-Ekulu felt the shortage most, because the population grew faster than the old pipe network.
What the new schemes changed
BusinessDay reported in December 2023 that the 9th Mile 24/7 water scheme, inaugurated on 25 November 2023 and powered by a 4.4 megawatt gas plant, was supplying 70 million litres a day, with new pumps at the Oji-River scheme adding 50 million litres a day. The governor said the combined 120 million litres a day was about twice the daily demand of Enugu urban, and that the state had built 96 water galleries (public collection points).
The same report recorded the limits: burst pipes around the metropolis, downstream teething problems and plans to extend pipes to residential areas built since the last major pipe-laying. Residents were told to pay for meter connections and a monthly rate, with no tariff given in the report.
Getting connected
- Ask neighbours whether pipe water flows on your street and how often.
- Contact the state water authority about a house connection and meter; the 2023 report said landlords should apply for connections.
- Ask for the connection cost and monthly rate in writing, and pay through official channels.
- Check that the plumbing inside your building is sound before the meter is installed; leaks will cost you on a metered supply.
Tankers and boreholes: labelled cost examples
Examples only, as at October 2026; not published prices. Tanker prices rise in the dry season, roughly November to March, and with fuel prices.
| Option (example) | Example cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tanker, 5,000 litres | ₦15,000 – ₦25,000 per load | Higher in dry season and for hard-to-reach streets |
| Tanker, 10,000 litres | ₦25,000 – ₦40,000 per load | Needs storage tank space |
| Jerrycan (25 litres) from a vendor | ₦100 – ₦250 | Most expensive per litre |
| New borehole, deep, with pump and tank | ₦2,500,000 – ₦5,000,000 | Depth and rock change the price a lot |
Worked example: a household on tanker water
Example only. A family of five in Abakpa uses about 300 litres a day, around 9,000 litres a month. Buying two 5,000-litre loads at ₦20,000 each costs ₦40,000 a month, or ₦480,000 a year. In jerrycans at ₦150 per 25 litres, the same 9,000 litres would be 360 jerrycans, ₦54,000 a month. Sharing a 10,000-litre load at ₦35,000 between two flats brings each flat's cost to ₦17,500 for 5,000 litres.
Against a borehole at, say, ₦3,500,000, the tanker spending of ₦480,000 a year in this example would take over seven years to match (₦3,500,000 ÷ ₦480,000 ≈ 7.3), before borehole maintenance and power. That is why boreholes usually make sense for a landlord with several flats, not a single tenant.
Questions to ask before renting
- Is the building connected to the public supply, with a meter, and how many days a week does water flow?
- Is there a borehole, who pays for its power and repairs, and does it serve every flat?
- How big is the storage tank, and who pays for tanker refills when supply fails?
- Is the cost of water included in a service charge, and how is it shared?
Get the answers in writing or in the tenancy agreement. A flat that is ₦100,000 a year cheaper but relies entirely on tankers can cost more in total, as the example above shows.
Storage and rainwater
During the rainy season, roughly April to October, many households collect rainwater from roofs into tanks or drums for washing and flushing. It reduces tanker spending but needs clean gutters, a covered tank and a first-flush arrangement so the dirtiest water is not stored. A larger storage tank also helps on a public supply that flows only on some days: you fill when it comes and draw down in between.
Tanker water: quality and safety
- Ask where the tanker filled its water, and buy from operators you or neighbours trust.
- Clean and cover your storage tank regularly.
- Treat or boil water you will drink, or buy sealed drinking water.
- Tanker operators are among the commercial vehicles that pay the state's daily ticketing, according to ESIRS; the ticket is not a quality guarantee.
Where Pryme fits
If water is a regular bill, a Personal Assistant can remind you before the tank runs low and prepare a payment to your usual tanker operator for you to approve. Renting? Read rent in Enugu by area and the full cost of moving house before you choose where to live.
Questions people ask
Why is there no water in Abakpa Enugu?
The old pipe network did not keep up with Abakpa's growth, and burst or missing pipes mean the newer state schemes do not reach every street. Many residents use tankers and boreholes.
How much is tanker water in Enugu?
There is no published price. As a labelled example, a 5,000-litre load might cost ₦15,000 to ₦25,000 in October 2026, more in the dry season.
How much does it cost to drill a borehole in Enugu?
It depends on depth and rock. As a labelled example, a deep borehole with pump and tank might cost ₦2.5 million to ₦5 million.
Is Enugu water supply 24 hours now?
The 9th Mile scheme was launched in 2023 as a 24/7 scheme, but supply still varies by street; ask neighbours how often water flows.
Sources
- BusinessDay: Enugu metropolis reconnects to pipe-borne water after over 30 years (7 Dec 2023) · accessed Oct 2026
- Nairametrics: ESIRS says 99% of Enugu informal sector evades taxes, defends legality of state levies (8 Aug 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
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