ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF HOUSEHOLD HARVESTED RAINWATER IN THE ASSIN SOUTH DISTRICT OFTHE CENTRAL REGION OFGHAN

Abstract

Water is vital to human existent and human well-being. The availability of adequate standard, clean, safe and secured water source has been and would always be a major concern. Human access to adequate safe and secured fresh water is limited, yet crucial for the survival of livelihood and healthy living. Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) through the roof catchment is an important domestic water source. The RWH system consists of the capture, transporting pipes, storage and utilization of stored rainwater. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of rainwater harvested in the Assin South District of the Central Region of Ghana. The study adopted multiple research methods including questionnaire survey, key informant interviews and laboratory analysis to determine the qualityof rain water harvested in the District. The results show residents used roof surface as rainwater harvestingsystems. The catchment surfaces were made up of 86% Aluminum Zinc,4%coatedZinc,7%wasslatewithonly1%madeofbambooand2%coconutleaves. Again, the results further showed that the parameters for assessing water quality such as physico-chemical properties; micro biological properties and trace metal content were either above or below the World Health Organization and the Ghana Water company acceptablestandards.Thestudyalsoshowedthatthelimitedaccesstopotablewatersupply couldriseinthedistrictasdemandforwaterforbotheconomicanddomesticactivitieswas increasing. It is therefore recommended that there was the need to develop a definitive or even a more sustainable water supply systems that are environmentally friendly, socially acceptable and economically viable.