Analysis of Water Poverty and Vulnerability to Water Scarcity in Selected Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State Using Water Poverty and Vulnerability Index

Abstract: The study was carried out in selected Local Government Areas in Ebonyi State, purposely to examine vulnerability to water scarcity in the area using the vulnerability index. The study made use of Abakiliki, Ohaukwu, Ishelu, ikwo, Ohaozara, and Onicha Local Government areas as the study L.G. A’s, This study adopted the Vulnerability Index (VI) methodology to determine the vulnerability to water scarcity, after Kusumartono and Rizal (2019) in the determination of water scarcity vulnerability in some small Islands in Indonesia. The result of the study indicates that the explanations of the water poverty index (WPI) are consistent with the Vulnerability Index determination. Both indices showed that the state is vulnerable to water scarcity with an overall VI score of 0.495, indicating a mid-level vulnerability, and a WPI score of 47.11, indicating an unsafe water poverty status. The study however concludes that the state’s vulnerability index is ranked at mid-level vulnerability and therefore recommends that Community leaders and household heads should make deliberate efforts to engage Government and Non-Government representatives for support in capacity building on training of skilled manpower to support the operation and maintenance of water supply facilities, water preservation, treatment, and conservation techniques within the study area to empower households to ensure effective management of water resources. Keywords: Vulnerability, Water, Scarcity, Ebonyi State, Vulnerability Index. © International Journal of Ground Sediment & Water, © Sun Jichao, The website is Web1: https://ijgsw.eu.org/ Web2: https://ijgsw.net/