Moderate quality. Some areas near lagoon have salinity.
Cost breakdown
Sachet (pure water)
₦500
per bag (20 sachets)
Bottled water
₦1,300
per pack (12 bottles)
Tanker delivery
₦28,000
per 10,000L delivery
Borehole (drilling)
—
—
Borehole (monthly)
₦15,000
per month (Band A area)
⚠ 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
₦12,000–₦35,000/month
Estimated cost for a household of 4 in Surulere
≈ 10% of median 2-bed rent in Surulere
Monthly water budget — household of 4
Sachet only
3 bags/day for family of 4
₦45,000/mo
Tanker delivery
2 deliveries/month
₦56,000/mo
✅ Recommended water strategy
BOREHOLE + FILTER: Drill to 60-80m. Basic sediment and carbon filter. Monthly: ₦12,000-₦20,000.
L
Lagos.Cool Editorial
28 July 2026 · 2 min read
Lagos.Cool Editorial
Surulere has moderate-quality groundwater at 50-80m depth. Some areas near the lagoon shore (Costain, Iddo side) have higher salinity. The interior residential areas have fresher water. Borehole plus basic filtration is the standard solution.
Surulere is one of Lagos's older, denser mainland districts, and its water reality carries that history. Boreholes are viable and near-universal, but tight plots and older buildings mean drilling can be cramped, and the groundwater in parts tends toward hardness — the mineral-heavy water that furs up kettles and leaves scale — so a filter or softener for drinking and appliances is a sensible addition here more than in some newer areas.
With the public supply unreliable as everywhere, the borehole-and-storage model rules, supplemented by a brisk trade in tanker and jerrycan water for the many compounds that have not drilled or cannot. Because Surulere is long-settled and central, drillers and tanker services are plentiful and used to working in tight spaces. The familiar rule holds: the tap is for washing, and drinking water comes from bottles, sachets or a proper filter — with hardness making that filter especially worthwhile.
📊 How Surulere compares
Banana Island
₦0
Cheapest in Lagos
Surulere
₦35,000
← Surulere
Lekki Phase 1
₦186,000
Most expensive in Lagos
⚖️ 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 Surulere. Expect a depth of 50–80 metres at a cost of around ₦n/a, with moderate quality. some areas near lagoon have salinity..
A typical 4-person household in Surulere spends ₦45,000–₦56,000 per month depending on whether they use sachet, tanker, or borehole.
Water in Surulere requires treatment before drinking. Sachet water and 20L bottle dispensers are safer everyday options.
Borehole depth in Surulere should be 50–80 metres to reach safe water. Drilling shallower risks contaminated or saline water.
Tanker water quality varies — some operators source from clean depths, others from contaminated sites. Use tanker companies recommended by your estate manager, store water in clean tanks, and inspect tanks quarterly for sediment and algae.