INVESTIGATION OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN DRAINAGE UTILIZATION IN RESIDENTIAL PLOTS IN AMUWO-ODOFIN, LAGOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

The issues of ineffectiveness of most residential plots in terms environmental sustainability are due to the problems of design, planning, regulatory and administrative framework within which physical development takes place. Effective site planning enhances the prospects of a site while addressing issues such as drainage, accessibility and sustainability. The research aims at investigating site planning issues of open spaces within setbacks of residential plots in Satellite town, Amuwo-Odofin local government area in Lagos Nigeria, by assessing utilization of sustainable urban drainage systems, which is a nature driven drainage strategy, with a view of improving the environmental sustainability of the residential plots. The research focused on sustainable urban drainage system infiltration strategies generally occurring as unpaved areas within open spaces in setbacks of residential plots, using questionnaires distributed to elicit data from respondents. Analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 21. The study revealed that SUDS facilities existed as unpaved areas at different setback spaces within residential plots, though varied with different plots, but is largely dependent on distance observed as setback space, with the level of unpaving predominant within the approach setback space. The study concluded that through Government’s implementation of a percentage of the residential site set aside for unpaving during approval and monitoring, with this unpaved area lower in gradient level than the paved area. Governments’ building control agencies should also put in more effort as regards compliance to approved setback distances by developers during construction. Furthermore, enlightenment of residents and prospective developers by government environmental agencies and built environment professionals, the significance of unpaved natural areas within residential plots.