This paper identifies types of coping strategies that are available
during water supply shortages to households in Oke-Ogun, Nigeria;
investigates the adequacy and effectiveness of coping options and
identifies why different population group prefer one particular coping
strategy over another. This work also investigates how household
socioeconomic status influence the choice of coping strategies during
water supply shortages in local communities that do not have formal
water utilities. Data was collected via site visits to three local
communities in the region, a household survey of 397 respondents,
key-informant interviews and focus group discussions. Observed and
perceived trends of climate indicate variability with impacts on
drying of wells which are the main water supply sources almost
immediately after the wet season. During periods of water scarcity,
most households combined multiple coping strategies. Yet, 90% of the
participating households indicated that available coping strategies are
not adequate. Households in traditional compounds rely more on
behavioural coping options while households in newer planned
neighbourhoods depend on technical coping options. The choice of
hard coping options depends on households’ socioeconomic characteristics
with income as the most influential factor.