The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission has announced plans to strictly enforce water quality and safety standards across the state, warning that unsafe practices by water service providers pose serious threats 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 session with water service stakeholders held in Epe. She said the engagement marked a clear transition from advocacy and awareness to full regulatory compliance, noting that enforcement actions would be taken against operators who fail to meet approved standards.
Adeyemo explained that Lagos’ rapid population growth, increased urbanisation, and mounting climate pressures have made stricter regulation unavoidable, particularly in a sector that directly affects human health and environmental stability. She stressed that ensuring safe water supply is no longer optional but a necessity that requires both regulatory oversight and responsible conduct by operators.
“As regulators, we are committed to enforcing standards that ensure water is properly treated, purified, packaged, and distributed,” she 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.”
She noted that limited access to pipe-borne water has pushed many Lagos residents to rely on alternative sources such as boreholes, a trend that has encouraged unsafe and indiscriminate drilling practices across communities. According to her, boreholes drilled too close to septic tanks and sewage systems significantly increase the risk of contamination and the spread of waterborne diseases.
Adeyemo warned that diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and diarrhoea remain major risks when water safety standards are ignored, adding that the appearance of water does not guarantee its safety. “Water is life, but unsafe water is a silent threat,” she said. “Every sachet or bottled water produced, every borehole drilled, and every tanker delivery made has a direct impact on public health.”
Beyond health concerns, the LASWARCO executive secretary raised alarm over the environmental impact of unregulated groundwater extraction, describing land subsidence as one of the most serious consequences. She explained that excessive abstraction of underground water, combined with abandoned boreholes that are not properly decommissioned, could lead to 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 closure,” she said, noting that once aquifers are damaged or depleted, restoration becomes extremely difficult.
Adeyemo said the enforcement drive is aligned with the Lagos State Government’s THEMES+ Agenda, particularly the Health and Environment pillar, and Nigeria’s commitments under Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation. She added that the state government, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is investing in water infrastructure to expand access to safe, reliable pipe-borne water and reduce dependence on unsafe private sources.
She cited ongoing and completed projects, including the commissioning of the Akilo Water Works in Ogba, the rehabilitation of Adiyan Phase 1, the near completion of Adiyan Phase 2, and planned upgrades to water works in Epe. According to her, these investments are critical to improving water access and strengthening regulatory outcomes.
Adeyemo disclosed that LASWARCO will intensify monitoring of borehole drillers, sachet and bottled water producers, tanker operators, and household water managers, emphasising that all water-related activities in the state fall under regulatory oversight.
“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 see regulation as a protective framework rather than a threat, noting that adherence to standards builds public trust, protects consumers, and strengthens the water sector. According to her, the engagement was designed to clarify responsibilities, encourage voluntary compliance, and send a clear signal that Lagos State will enforce water safety standards to protect present and future generations.
