Deeper drilling needed. RO recommended for drinking.
Cost breakdown
Sachet (pure water)
₦500
per bag (20 sachets)
Bottled water
₦1,300
per pack (12 bottles)
Tanker delivery
₦47,000
per 10,000L delivery
Borehole (drilling)
₦2,000,000
one-time installation
Borehole (monthly)
₦15,000
per month (Band A area)
Borehole vs tanker — when does it pay off?
Borehole (cumulative)Tanker (cumulative)
A ₦2.0M borehole pays back versus tanker delivery in roughly 26 months at this neighborhood's prices.
⚠ Water quality is fair — borehole water may need additional treatment beyond basic filtration. Test your water before relying on it for drinking. Consider a combination of borehole (for bathing/washing) and sachet water (for drinking).
💧 Monthly water budget
₦140,000–₦186,000/month
Estimated cost for a household of 4 in Lekki Phase 1
≈ 23% of median 2-bed rent in Lekki Phase 1
Monthly water budget — household of 4
Sachet only
3 bags/day for family of 4
₦45,000/mo
Tanker delivery
2 deliveries/month
₦94,000/mo
Borehole (amortised + monthly run)
5-yr amortisation + run cost
₦48,333/mo
⚠️ Health warning
The Lagos State government has officially warned that borehole water in the Lekki axis is likely contaminated with faecal matter due to proximity to septic tanks and unregulated shallow drilling. In 2024, Lagos experienced 4,667 cholera cases and 134 deaths, largely traced to contaminated water. If your borehole water has any colour, smell, or taste, DO NOT USE IT for drinking or cooking. Use sachet water, bottled water, or treated tanker water only.
✅ Recommended water strategy
TANKER + SACHET COMBO: For most Lekki residents, the practical solution is tanker water delivery (₦47,000/10,000L) for bathing, laundry, and cleaning, combined with sachet/bottled water for drinking and cooking. If investing in a borehole, ensure drilling to 240m+ depth with full reverse osmosis treatment — budget ₦2.5-3.5M total.
L
Lagos.Cool Editorial
4 June 2026 · 2 min read
Lagos.Cool Editorial
Lekki Phase 1 sits on one of Lagos's most challenging water tables. The Lagos State Permanent Secretary for Drainage and Water Resources made headlines in 2025 when he publicly warned that "everyone digging a borehole within the Lekki axis is probably drinking shit water." That's not hyperbole — it's a government official describing the reality of unregulated shallow boreholes drilled near septic tanks on a peninsula with a high water table and no municipal wastewater treatment. Scientific studies by Springer Nature confirm that saline water extends to 162 metres depth in Lekki — meaning any borehole drilled shallower than 200m is tapping brackish or contaminated water. A proper deep borehole (240m with reverse osmosis) costs ₦2-3 million, but most Lekki estates used cheaper shallow boreholes (80-150m) that produce water residents describe as "looking like chocolate." The result: most Lekki households rely on tanker delivery (₦47,000 per 10,000L, 2-3 deliveries per month = ₦94,000-₦141,000/month) plus sachet water for drinking (₦500/bag × 3 bags/day = ₦45,000/month). Total monthly water cost in Lekki: ₦140,000-₦186,000 — a hidden expense that never appears in any cost-of-living guide until now.
💡 Water tips
1NEVER drink untreated borehole water in Lekki — the government itself has warned it's contaminated
2Tanker water should be stored in clean overhead or underground tanks — inspect tanks quarterly for algae and sediment
3If your estate has a borehole, demand to see the water test certificate and RO treatment proof
4Sachet water (pure water) is safer than most Lekki borehole water for drinking and cooking
5A water dispenser with 20L bottles (₦500-₦800 per bottle) is the safest drinking option
6Budget ₦140,000-₦186,000/month for water in Lekki — this is a real cost most people forget when calculating rent
7The Lekki Water Desalination Project ($288M) is planned for Lekki Free Zone — when operational, it will supply 200,000 cubic metres/day to the peninsula
🚚 Tanker providers
VGC Water SupplyTankFill LagosLekki Water Tankers AssociationEstate management (some estates include tanker delivery in service charge)
📊 How Lekki Phase 1 compares
Banana Island
₦0
Cheapest in Lagos
Lekki Phase 1
₦186,000
← Lekki Phase 1
⚖️ Legal: borehole permits
Under the Lagos State Environmental Management Protection Law, drilling a borehole without LASWARCO authorization is illegal. Fine: ₦500,000 + up to 1 month imprisonment. Always obtain a permit before drilling, and hire a licensed hydrogeological surveyor to assess your site.
LASWARCO permit required. ₦500,000 fine + 1 month imprisonment for drilling without authorization.
Yes — borehole drilling is viable in Lekki Phase 1. Expect a depth of 80–150 metres at a cost of around ₦2,000,000, with deeper drilling needed. ro recommended for drinking..