Evaluating the effectiveness of smart water management systems in enhancing the resilience and sustainability of water infrastructure in Nigeria

ABSTRACT This study rigorously evaluates the effectiveness of smart water management systems in addressing prevalent water infrastructure failures, resilience, and sustainability challenges in Nigeria. Employing a transdisciplinary approach that integrates technological, social, and economic disciplines, along with industry and community insights, it analyses 1,095 days of operational data from a smart water kiosk. The data were processed employing Target 6.1 software for comprehensive comparative analysis, trend analysis, predictive modeling, and impact assessment. Initially, the kiosk achieved a 22% self-sustainability rating (SSR), which dropped to zero due to aid overlap – a novel challenge documented for the first time in the literature as a significant challenge to infrastructure sustainability. Additionally, the research highlighted infrastructure underutilization as a critical yet under-explored issue. Despite these challenges, the kiosk ultimately achieved a 100% sustainability rating (SR) with external support and maintained a high reliability rating of 97.1%. The findings of this study guide strategic research and policy recommendations, aiming to optimize the deployment of smart water management systems in Nigeria and other regions with similar socio-economic settings, thereby enriching the global discourse on sustainable water infrastructure.