“Residents of Ebonyi Village Forced to Share Their Water Supply with Animals”

In a remote community in Ebonyi State, residents are struggling to access clean and safe drinking water, leaving them with no choice but to fetch water from a dirty pond that is also used by livestock.

The people of Ndeguazu Umuoghara, part of the Agbaja Autonomous Community in Ezza North Local Government Area, say there is no functional borehole or alternative water source in the area, and the only pond available has become their main source of water for drinking, cooking and household chores.

Locals report that cattle and other animals regularly drink from the same pond, leaving footprints and increasing worries about contamination and health risks. Many families, including children and older residents, rely on this water because there are no better options nearby.

The community also lacks other basic services such as electricity, good roads, and regular government support, contributing to a long history of neglect. Residents have repeatedly called on local and state authorities to drill functional boreholes or provide other clean water solutions, but they say their pleas have gone unanswered.

Health advocates warn that drinking water shared with animals increases the risk of water‑borne diseases, a concern echoed in many rural areas without access to clean water supply.