Impact of Potable Water Availability on Economic Development of North Benue State

The socioeconomic progress of developing nations, states, and rural communities largely depends on the development and management of their water resources. Rural communities of the North Senatorial District (NSD) of Benue, Nigeria do not have adequate access to potable water. The purpose of this correlational study was to evaluate the statistical relationship between availability of potable water and the economic development of the NSD and Benue state. The primary theoretical framework included Omamegbe\u27s theory of migration and brain drain. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed using a modified version of the World Health Organization (WHO) Laboratory Assessment Checklist. Participants consisted of 43 water supply managers and five officials of the Ministry for Water Resources and Environment (MWRE). Data were analyzed using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient to establish a relationship between the independent variable (potable water supply) and the dependent variable constructs relating to the availability and quality of water supply technologies and resources as well as the presence of documentation for maintenance and improvements. The results indicated all dependent variables had statistically significant relationships to lack of potable water supply and its negative effect on the economic development of the NSD. The implications for social change include developing a state model that would improve water supply to communities of the NSD of Benue state which may no doubt have a positive health, economic, and social impacts for the state and potentially, the country