ABSTRACT
The gap between water need and supply has widened in most existing and emerging urban centres in Nigeria. Large number of urban dwellers experience inadequacy of water supply and thus rely on doubtful sources for domestic uses such as shallow wells, harvesting of rain water from roof tops and occasional seasonal streams. In response to the rapid urban and population growth that has characterized many newly created state capitals, in Nigeria, including Damaturu, water Agencies have evolved policies and programmes for obtaining adequate supply in order to achieve a balanced social and economic urban development. Although much efforts and financial resources have been invested in water resource development, the net results achieved have been very minimal and unsatisfactory. Thus, in addition to the need to consider principal factors in effective urban water supply and management such as urban population size, distribution, density and overall socio-economic characteristics as well as land and water use pattern, this study has shown that, the water Agencies need to integrate community based organisations who are direct beneficiaries of water projects, the private sector, extraministerial bodies such as Petroleum Trust Rind, National Water Rehabilitation Project, the Municipal//Local Governments as well as Non-Governmental Organisations in the Planning, Development and Management of water supply in the Urban areas. Specific proposals have been given for sustainable water supply in Damaturu.