By: Boluwatife Olorunfemi
Field assessment: Peter Hamidu, Hope Spring Water volunteer
Location: Angwan Kyauta, Garaku, Kokona LGA, Nasarawa State
Assessment date: 24th July 2026
Project status: Needs assessment completed – next stage under review
Angwan Kyauta Water Project: Why This Nasarawa Community Needs a Safer Water Source
For families in Angwan Kyauta, collecting water is not simply a daily chore.
According to community leaders, it can involve leaving the village and crossing a busy road just to secure enough water for everyday needs.
A recent needs assessment carried out by a Hope Spring Water volunteer in Angwan Kyauta, near Garaku in Nasarawa State, highlighted the difficulties local families face and the urgent need for a safer, more reliable water source closer to home. This is a common story about accessing clean water in Nigeria from rural communities.
The assessment is an important first step in understanding the community’s needs and considering what type of sustainable water intervention may be appropriate.
About Angwan Kyauta Village
Angwan Kyauta is a rural farming community within the Garaku area of Kokona Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The community is in the same local government as previous community water projects in Akwanga.
Agriculture plays an important part in everyday life. Local farmers grow crops including maize, pawpaw, cashew and palm produce, supporting both their families and the local economy.
However, one of the most basic resources needed by every household remains difficult to access: water.
The Hope Spring assessment found that the village does not have a dependable water source that residents can easily access within the community. Families therefore have to travel elsewhere to collect water for drinking, cooking, washing and other household needs.
A Daily Journey That Comes With Serious Risks
One of the most concerning findings from the assessment is the journey residents make to collect water.
According to the village head, people travelling from Angwan Kyauta to a neighbouring community to fetch water have to cross a busy highway.
The village head told the Hope Spring volunteer that women and children have lost their lives while making this journey over the years.
This testimony underlines why improving water access is about much more than convenience. Bringing a dependable water source closer to the community could also reduce the need for residents to make repeated journeys across a dangerous road.
For families in Angwan Kyauta, a local water supply could therefore mean both better access to water and a safer daily routine.
The Burden on Women and Children
The assessment also highlighted the amount of time and effort involved in collecting water. Water and children’s education in rural areas is inextricably linked.
Women and children are among those carrying containers between the village and available water sources. Time spent collecting water is time that cannot be used for school, work, farming, family responsibilities or rest.
For children, a lengthy water-collection journey can potentially interfere with attending school regularly and arriving on time.
For adults, particularly women involved in collecting water for their households, the journey creates an additional physical burden alongside farming, childcare and other responsibilities.
This reflects a wider challenge seen in communities without nearby water infrastructure. UNICEF identifies access to water, sanitation and hygiene as an important factor affecting children’s health and development in Nigeria.
Water Access and Local Livelihoods
Farming is central to Angwan Kyauta’s economy.
Although the immediate priority identified in the assessment is access to water for households, a dependable local supply could also support some farming and livelihood activities, particularly during periods when rainfall is limited.
Reducing the hours families spend finding and transporting water could give residents more time for farming, trading and other income-generating activities.
For a community that depends heavily on agriculture, those saved hours can matter.
Better Water Access Can Support Health and Hygiene
Reliable access to sufficient water is also closely connected with good hygiene.
When water is difficult to obtain, households may have to carefully ration what they collect. This can make everyday practices such as handwashing, bathing, cleaning and food preparation more difficult.
Improving access to water would give families greater opportunity to maintain good hygiene within their homes.
Importantly, the current assessment focuses primarily on access to water. Further technical investigation would be required before making conclusions about groundwater availability, water quality or the most appropriate type of water system for Angwan Kyauta.
Listening to the Community Before Building
Hope Spring believes that successful community water projects should begin by listening.
A needs assessment helps the charity understand how residents currently obtain water, who is most affected, the risks families face and what the community itself considers most important.
The village head has formally asked Hope Spring Water to consider supporting Angwan Kyauta with a sustainable water solution.
The community has also expressed its willingness to work with Hope Spring should the project progress.
This local involvement is important. A successful water project is not simply about installing infrastructure; it also requires local participation and long-term community ownership.
What Happens Next?
The Angwan Kyauta assessment establishes the need for improved water access, but it does not by itself determine the final solution.
Before any borehole drilling or other water system is developed, further technical work may be required to establish factors such as groundwater availability, the most suitable location, expected demand and the appropriate technology.
Hope Spring will use the information gathered during the community assessment to help determine the next steps.
As the project develops, updates can document the journey from assessment and technical surveys through to construction, testing and, hopefully, the arrival of a dependable water source for the community.
Supporting Clean Water Projects in Nigeria
Angwan Kyauta is one of many communities where access to water can affect safety, education, health and livelihoods. You can read more about this at UNICEF water, sanitation and hygiene page.
Hope Spring Water works with communities in Nigeria and elsewhere in West Africa to develop practical and sustainable solutions to water poverty. Most of the time a borehole is the solution to a community’s clean water needs, other times, a water well construction will meet their need.
Supporters make this work possible through donations, fundraising and Hope Spring charity eCards. You can read more about some of our clean water projects here.
Every contribution helps Hope Spring assess more communities and support water projects where they are most needed.
Help us bring safe, accessible water closer to more families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Angwan Kyauta village?
Angwan Kyauta is in the Garaku area of Kokona Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
What is the main water problem in Angwan Kyauta?
The Hope Spring needs assessment found that residents do not have a dependable, easily accessible water source within the village and have to travel outside their community to collect water.
Why is collecting water particularly dangerous?
According to the village head, residents travelling to collect water from a neighbouring community must cross a busy highway. He reported that women and children have lost their lives while making the journey over the years.
Is Hope Spring building a borehole in Angwan Kyauta?
The project is currently at the needs-assessment stage. Further technical investigation is required before deciding whether a borehole or another water solution is most appropriate.
How can people support Hope Spring’s clean water projects?
People can support Hope Spring Water through donations, fundraising and by using Hope Spring charity eCards, which help raise funds for the charity’s clean water work.
