Urban Planning: Case Study Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC)

Urban water utilities play a critical role in ensuring sustainable water supply in rapidly growing megacities, particularly in developing countries where demand, infrastructure pressure, and resource constraints are acute. As the primary public agency responsible for potable water supply in Lagos State, the Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC) occupies a strategic position in advancing sustainable water conservation and management practices. This study examines the key sustainable water conservation and management strategies adopted by LSWC to enhance operational efficiency and long-term water supply sustainability. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select respondents drawn from LSWC’s management and operational structure. A total of ten (10) staff members were sampled for the study. Data were collected using closed-ended questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, and mean item score (MIS), to rank respondents’ perceptions of the adopted strategies. Findings reveal that operational management practices with direct implications for water conservation ranked highest. These include effective metering system implementation (MIS 4.9), routine equipment inspection (MIS 4.9), efficient management of maintenance staff (MIS 4.9), and the development of the Lagos Water Supply Master Plan (MIS 4.9). Infrastructure rehabilitation (MIS 4.8) and the adoption of sustainable operational practices (MIS 4.8) were also highly ranked, while public awareness campaigns (MIS 4.6) played a complementary role. Conversely, the preparation of facility- specific manuals and the use of appropriate tools and methods ranked lowest (MIS 4.3). The study concludes that LSWC’s water conservation efforts are largely driven by structured management systems, metering efficiency, infrastructure maintenance, and strategic planning. Keywords: Sustainable Water Management, Lagos State Water Corporation, Water Conservation Strategies, Metering System, Public Awareness.