Assessment of Rainwater Harvesting in Awe Town, Awe Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

Access to reliable and safe water remains a significant challenge in many rural and semi-urban communities in Nigeria, particularly where conventional water-supply infrastructure is inadequate or groundwater quality is problematic. Awe Town in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State presents a particularly important case because groundwater resources in parts of the settlement are affected by saline brines associated with the Awe Formation. This study assesses the potential of rainwater harvesting (RWH) as a complementary water-supply strategy for Awe Town. The assessment integrates published information on the hydro geological conditions of Awe, regional rainfall characteristics, recent studies on rainwater harvesting in Nigeria, and a roof-catchment water-yield model. The assessment indicates that Awe has climatic conditions capable of supporting household and community rainwater harvesting, with published regional evidence placing annual rainfall within approximately 1,100-1,500 mm, although rainfall is strongly seasonal. Using the standard relationship Q = C × P × A Q = C times P times A, scenario calculations indicate that a 100 m² roof could theoretically generate approximately 88, 104 and 120 m³ of water annually under 1,100, 1,300 and 1,500 mm rainfall scenarios, respectively, assuming a runoff coefficient of 0.80. The analysis also identifies water-quality risks associated with roof surfaces, storage conditions, first-flush contamination and microbial contamination. Previous research in Nigeria demonstrates that harvested rainwater can range from acceptable to unsuitable for drinking depending on the collection and storage conditions. For Awe, rainwater harvesting is therefore potentially valuable as a supplementary water source, particularly for non-potable uses, while potable use should be preceded by appropriate treatment and routine quality monitoring. The study recommends household and institutional RWH systems incorporating suitable roof catchments, first-flush diversion, covered storage tanks, filtration, disinfection and periodic water-quality testing. The findings provide a basis for detailed household-level field assessment and community-scale RWH planning in Awe Town.