Lagos to Enforce Water Quality Standards, Warns Service Providers

The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) has announced plans to strictly enforce water quality and safety standards across the state, warning that unsafe practices by water service providers pose serious risks to public health and the environment.

The warning was issued on Monday by the Executive Secretary of LASWARCO, Oluwabukola Khadijah Adeyemo, during a one-day community sensitisation and public engagement with water service stakeholders held in Epe. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

Adeyemo said the engagement marked a decisive shift from awareness creation to full regulatory compliance, stressing that enforcement measures would be applied against operators who fail to meet required standards.

She noted that Lagos’ rapid population growth, urbanisation, and climate pressures have made strict regulation unavoidable.

“As regulators, we are committed to enforcing standards that ensure water is properly treated, purified, packaged and distributed,” Adeyemo said.
“However, regulation alone cannot achieve this goal. Compliance must be driven by a shared sense of responsibility and professional ethics among all water service providers.”

According to Adeyemo, many Lagos residents rely on alternative water sources such as boreholes due to limited access to pipe-borne water, a situation that has encouraged unsafe and indiscriminate drilling practices.

She warned that boreholes drilled close to septic tanks and sewage systems significantly increase the risk of waterborne diseases, including cholera, typhoid fever, and diarrhoea.

“Water is life, but unsafe water is a silent threat. The physical appearance of water does not guarantee its safety or potability,” she said.
“Every sachet or bottled water produced, every borehole drilled and every tanker delivery made has a direct impact on public health.”

Environmental Concerns Raised

Beyond public health implications, the LASWARCO boss raised concerns about the environmental consequences of unregulated groundwater extraction, warning that excessive abstraction could lead to land subsidence and soil instability in parts of Lagos.

“One of the most alarming consequences is land subsidence caused by over-extraction of underground water and abandoned boreholes without proper decommissioning,” she said, adding that damaged aquifers are difficult to restore once depleted.

Adeyemo stated that the enforcement drive aligns with the Lagos State Government’s THEMES+ Agenda, particularly the Health and Environment pillar, as well as Nigeria’s commitments under Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.

She disclosed that the state government, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, is investing in infrastructure to expand access to safe, pipe-borne water.

Ongoing and completed projects include the commissioning of the Akilo Water Works in Ogba, rehabilitation of Adiyan Phase 1, near completion of Adiyan Phase 2, and planned upgrades of water works in Epe to reduce dependence on unsafe private sources.

Adeyemo said LASWARCO would intensify monitoring of borehole drillers, sachet and bottled water producers, tanker operators, and household water managers, noting that all operators are subject to regulation.

“LASWARCO stands ready to partner with stakeholders to guide and support them, but we equally expect full compliance, ethical practices and a shared commitment to health and environmental safety,” she said.

She urged stakeholders to view regulation as a protective measure rather than a threat, emphasising that adherence to standards builds public trust and strengthens the sector.

According to her, the engagement was designed to clarify responsibilities, encourage voluntary compliance, and send a clear message that Lagos State will enforce water safety standards to safeguard present and future generations.