Management Processes and Determinants of Water Recycling Facilities of Corporate Real Estate Organisations in Nigeria

This study investigates the management processes and determinants of water recycling facilities within corporate real estate organisations in southwestern Nigeria, focusing on Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo States. These states were selected due to their high concentration of industrial and commercial estates where water recycling is increasingly adopted in response to urban water scarcity and rising operational costs. Employing a descriptive survey design, data were collected through structured questionnaires from 15 purposively selected organisations operating functional water recycling systems. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, means, percentages, and Relative Importance Index, RII) and factor analysis were used to analyse the data. Findings reveal that 86.7% of the organisations are privately owned, with 13.3% operating through public-private partnerships; none are government-owned. Most organisations (60%) employ fewer than 50 staff, and a majority operate at local (66.7%) or regional (33.3%) levels. The primary motivation for recycling is industrial use (86.7%), relying predominantly on domestic wastewater (80%). Despite some structured practices, such as the presence of recycling personnel (RII=0.693) and policies (RII=0.667); budgeting (RII=0.507), system upgrades (RII=0.453), and data-driven decision-making (RII=0.507) remain weak. Training, maintenance, and auditing practices were moderately implemented. Factor analysis identified eight core components influencing performance, including environmental regulation, institutional capacity, financial investment, and organisational culture. Challenges such as inadequate funding (RII=0.587), skills shortages (RII=0.667), and poor strategic planning (RII=0.373) undermine facility sustainability, although a high willingness to adopt new technologies (RII=0.72) was observed. The study recommends enhanced technical training, improved budgeting practices, and proactive maintenance strategies. It also calls for policy support through clear regulations, fiscal incentives, and stakeholder engagement to improve acceptance of recycled water. Ultimately, achieving sustainable water recycling in Nigeria’s corporate real estate sector requires a coordinated blend of skilled management, financial commitment, technological adoption, and enabling government frameworks.