Water availability investigation and assessment in South-Western Nigeria

Water is the most important resource for life after air. The effects of water stress around the world are becoming alarming by the day. The aim of this study is to assess the level of water availability and probability of drought in a selected rural and agrarian community in South-Western Nigeria, using water balance and drought indices techniques. Data were obtained from meteorological stations within the study area. Potential and actual evapotranspiration were computed from FAO Penman Monteith equations. Water balance was analysed from Thorntwaite’s bookkeeping technique. Five drought indices were compared. Annual water surpluses consistently exceeded annual water deficits by minimum of 85%. Drought indices analysis indicated consistently wet conditions. The standardized precipitation indices varied from − 0.97 to 0.87 and the standardized runoff indices varied from − 0.87 to 0.89. The drought indices correlated with values ranging from 0.89 to 0.99. These implies water surpluses as surface runoff can be harnessed for economic uses before repeating the hydrologic cycle. This study can be handy in water planning, management, supply, usage and policy formulation. © Islamic Azad University (IAU) 2021.