International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 1 No. 2; February 2011 89 Urban Water Supply as a Catalyse for Socio-Economic Transformation of Port Harcourt City, Nigeria EJA, EJA. I. Department of Geography and Regional Planning University of Calabar- Nigeria Email: ejako2007@yahoo.com OTU , JUDITH. E. Department of Sociology, University of Calabar, Calabar. State –Nigeria Email: judithesame@yahoo Joy Eko Atu . Department of Geography and Regional Planning University of Calabar- Nigeria Email: jo.ekat@yahoo.com EDET, EYO. O. Department ofAgric Econs and Ext University of Calabar- Nigeria Email: eyoorok@yahoo.com Abstract Greater awareness of the growing problems of water supply in various parts of the world cause concern in our contemporary societies. This complex and uneven global patterns of distribution to water continue unabated as population pressure reduces the per capital volumes available. This paper critically examine urban water supply as a catalyse for socio-economic transformation of Port Harcourt city. The city was divided into ten (10) different zones which include Abuloma, Rumuokwuta, Mule I and II, Diobu Port Harcourt, Town, G.R.A. phase II, Rainbow, Ogbu nabali, Elekiah and Rumuogba. Three hundred (300) questionnaires were administered to mostly head of household at the designed localities (30 per location). The Pearson’s product moment correlation statistical technique was employed in testing the stated hypothesis and the result shows that income influences the quantity of water used by individual in different sections of Port Harcourt. Therefore, it is pertinent to state that efforts should be made at improving urban water supply in the area. Key Words: Domestic water, domestic consumption, household and private water connection. Introduction Considering the tremendous role water plays in human life the 32 nd Hague International Model Limited Nations (THIMUN) held in the Netherlands on 28 th January 2000, focused attention on water crises plaguing different nations and the approach to handle the score resources. According to the Stockholm environmental institution, one-third of the world’s population already live in areas that suffer moderate to severe water shortages. While (1976) observed that in the cities of the developing countries, their state of water provision and expansion of water project does not match the scale and rate of urban growth. The World Health Organization (WHO), noted that majority of people in new urban centres of developing countries do not have access to portable water, which is considered in developed countries to be a basic necessity. It want further to state that the provision of adequate water will go a long way in preventing water-related diseases such as cholera and drancuncolisis (guinea worm) prevalent in this part of the world. In Africa, water supply problems emanate from large wave of rural-urban migration. In Nigeria the increasing rate of urbanization could be attributed to the general increasing rate of population growth, put at 3% and the rate of urbanization has added more to the existing urban problems. Among these problems are those of occurrence of slom housing problems, water supply problems and environmental pollution. In Port Harcourt, the scene remain the same as water supply is a serious problems which result to people travelling long distance often on foot before water can be obtained for domestic use. This situation has often led children roam the street in search of water. Could one say that urban water supply is a tool for socio-economic development?