• The topography and climate of the region have significant impact on the hydrology and the amount of water that is available at any given time within the year. Both surface and underground water are available in the hydrological zones. The more humidity in the microclimate the more water was available. The water on the plains of Zaria was drained in the River Saye to the South, River Kubanni to the North and River Galma to the east. These rivers in turn empty their waters in River Kaduna. Within Birnin Zaria it-self there are several streams, which flow into these Rivers. Most of the streams are perennial in that they are subject to great seasonal fluctuations in water level. In the dry season, the smaller rivers have little or no water in them. However they usually get flooded during the rainy season.
• These seasonally flooded lands (fadamas) are very important as valuable agricultural lands. Crops like sugar cane, rice, onions, tomatoes and tobacco were extensively cultivated in the fadamas. The ground water level also falls rapidly during the dry season as a result of seepage, extraction or by high-density evapo-transpiration. However the water table in Zaria is usually quite high and wells are sunk to a comparatively shallow depth of about 15.4 meters.
• Streams that traversed the plains of Birnin Zaria and flow into these rivers included Kamacha. This stream rises from River Saye and then branches into two, one passing through Rimin Danza, Anguwan Fatika, Fanwanki and Gangaren Tukurwa. The other branch passes outside Kofar Jatau and Government Day Secondary School Kofar TukurTukur into Gangaren Tukurwa where it joins again with the other branch and continues through Magume and Gaskiya in Tudun Wada and finally drains into River Kubanni. The second stream is Rafin Sarki, which flows from Fadamar Bono, located around Babban Dodo in the heart of Birnin Zaria and passes through Kaura and then separates with one part passing through Anguwan Liman, Hancin Kare, and Kofar Kona and empties itself into River Saye. While the other branch passes through areas between Anguwan Kaura and Anguwan Bishar into Kofar Kona and drains into River Saye. The third stream rises from Jakara by the Zaria city market and passes through the ward of Kusfa to the River Saye. The last of these streams flows Southeast rising from the inselberg of Madarkachi passing through Fafanya, Bula, and Kusfan Batso and empties its waters into the Saye River.
• The significance of these streams to the pattern of the historical evolution of Birnin Zaria could be seen from the fact that they encouraged and supported the establishment and growth of human settlements in the Birni. This was because the streams provided not only source of good drinking water for the inhabitants and their livestock but also clay for making pots, abundant grass for feeding animals, good fadama land for both rainy and dry seasons farming activities, fish for protein and so on and a good drainage system.