mai ruwa is a hausa term commonly used in nigeria (especially in northern regions and cities like kano, abuja, lagos, etc.) meaning "water seller" or water vendor.it refers to people (often men pushing carts, riding donkeys, or using trucks/tankers) who sell and deliver water — usually from boreholes, wells, or treatment points — to homes, shops, and communities where piped water supply is unreliable or absent.they are an essential part of daily life in many urban and semi-urban areas, often seen as unsung heroes for providing this basic necessity.