Rent is a number you can compare. Water supply is something you only notice when it fails. A good viewing includes a few minutes on the taps, and a few questions that most tenants do not ask. This guide shows what to test and what to ask.
Know the source
Water reaches homes in Nigeria in several ways. Ask which one applies, and who runs it.
Mains
Piped supply from the utility. Ask how reliable it is and whether the building also has a tank.
Borehole
A well with a pump, often shared. Ask who maintains it and who pays for the power.
Overhead tank
Water stored and fed by gravity. Check size, cleanliness and refill arrangements.
Delivery
Water trucked in. Ask the cost per delivery and how often it is needed.
The five-minute test
- Turn on every tap, hot and cold, and watch the pressure.
- Run the shower for a minute. Does the pressure hold? Does the water heater work?
- Flush every toilet. Does it fill and drain properly?
- Look at the water in a clear glass. Is it clear, or does it have colour, particles or a smell?
- Look under the sinks and at the ceiling below any bathroom for leaks and stains.
Note anything odd and ask about it before you pay, not after.
Ask the people who live there
- Does the water ever run out, and for how long?
- What do you do when the pump or supply fails?
- Who pays for pumping and refills, and how much per month?
- Is the borehole water tested, and have you had problems?
- Does the tank get cleaned, and how often?
Neighbours' answers are worth more than the agent's reassurance.
Quality and safety
Water quality varies by location and by how a borehole or tank is built and kept. We have not quoted figures here, because they depend on the site. If drinking water matters to you, ask whether any test results exist, and consider filtering or treating water you drink. A building with a dirty tank or a leaking pipe near a drain is one to question.
The money side
- Running costs. Pumps use power. In an estate this may be in the service charge. In a single house, it may fall on you.
- Backup. If supply fails, budget for refills or delivery.
- The agreement. Write down who maintains the pump, tank and pipes, and what happens if they fail for days. See how to read a tenancy agreement before you sign it.
Add running costs to your comparison with the move-in cost calculator.
A short list to take with you
12 questions to ask before you pay rent on a flat has water on it, and power supply before you rent covers the other utility you need to check. If the area floods, read is this street flood-prone? too, since flooding affects water quality and supply.
What to look for in a borehole
A borehole is a common source and often a good one, but it is only as good as its upkeep. Ask these questions.
- How deep is it, and when was it drilled? A deeper, newer borehole is generally less likely to run dry or pick up surface contamination, though this depends on the ground.
- Where is the pump, and who services it? Ask for the date of the last service.
- How is the water stored, and when were the tanks last cleaned? Dirty tanks spoil clean water.
- Is there a treatment or filter system, and who pays for the chemicals or the filter changes?
- What is the backup when power fails, since the pump needs electricity? See power supply before you rent.
What to look at in a tank
If the building depends on a storage tank filled by a tanker or a pump, ask how often it is refilled and who arranges it. A tank on the roof that is open or cracked collects dust, insects and leaves. A tank on the ground can pick up contamination from the soil if the lid is poor. Ask to see it. A responsible landlord will not mind.
Pressure and flow
Turn on the tap in the kitchen and the shower at the same time, and flush the toilet while you do. If the pressure drops sharply, ask whether the building has an underpowered pump or an overloaded line. Check the highest floor, since pressure is lowest there.
Smell, colour and taste
Fill a clear glass and look at it in daylight. It should be clear. Smell it: a strong chemical or sulphur smell, or an earthy one, is a warning. Taste it only if the source is known to be safe, otherwise ask residents what they drink and what they use. Many households use the supply for washing and buy or filter drinking water.
The cost side
Water has a running cost even when the rent does not mention it. Ask how much a household spends monthly on tanker deliveries, pump fuel or filters. If the cost is shared in a compound, ask how it is split and what happens if a neighbour does not pay. Add the figure to the move-in cost calculator when you compare flats. Service charges sometimes cover part of it.
During the rainy season
Water supply and flooding are linked. A borehole near a flooded drain can be contaminated, and a flooded street can cut off tanker deliveries. If you can, ask neighbours what happens to the water in heavy rain. Is this street flood-prone? explains how to check a street quickly.
Put the water arrangements in the tenancy agreement if you can: who maintains the supply and what happens when it fails. How to read a tenancy agreement shows the clauses to look for.
A realistic monthly water budget
Water has a cost even when the rent seems to include it. To estimate it, ask residents:
- How often do you buy water from a tanker, and at what price?
- Who pays for pump electricity and servicing?
- Do you use a filter or buy drinking water, and what does that cost?
- Does the supply drop in the dry season?
Add the answer to your comparison of homes. A cheap flat with a weak supply can cost more than a dearer one with a reliable borehole.
Seasonal changes
Supply and quality change through the year. In the dry months, some boreholes yield less and tanker prices rise. In the rainy months, flooding can contaminate wells and cut off deliveries. Ask residents about both seasons, and look at how the building stores water. See harmattan and your home and is this street flood-prone?.
What to put in the agreement
If water is promised, say so in writing: the source, who maintains it, what happens when it fails and who pays for treatment. A landlord who agrees to this is more likely to fix problems. See how to read a tenancy agreement.
