URBAN LOW-COST WATER SUPPLY AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO OTHER SOURCES: THE CASE OF DUNKWA-OFFIN IN THE CENTRAL REGION, GHANA

Abstract

The study investigated urban low-cost water supply as an alternative to existing sources in the Upper Denkyira Municipal Area of the Central Region of Ghana. Three zones of the capital of the municipality were purposively selected, namely Dunkwa-Kadadwen, Ayamfuri and Oponsu. The major objective was to determine how the adoption of low-cost water supply technology solves the problems of potable water in urban Upper Denkyira. The study adopted the descriptive research design with qualitative and quantitative approaches. The major tools of data collection were questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. The results indicated that uneven spatial distribution, high tariff rates, bad water quality and fluctuations in the supply of potable water were the major factors that influenced the promotion of low-cost water supply approaches in the area. It was further revealed that low-cost water sources have low investment cost, low operational cost, affordable tariff rates, and also influenced human wellbeing in the municipality in several ways. It was therefore concluded that low-cost water supply technologies serve as better alternatives to other sources of potable water in the municipality. The study recommended that there should be poverty reduction strategies to increase the ability of the urban poor to contribute to low-cost water supply projects for self-reliance. There should also be adequate subsidies on low-cost water supply material or on the budgets of community groups or households implementing low-cost water supply projects. Additionally, it was recommended that water quality should be improved through public education on the disinfection of water from low-cost water sources.