A study of water management practices, challenges and sustainable solutions in the Sekyere South District

Abstract

Water is life and especially potable water is essential for life and health. So, access to drinking water, improves overall socio-economic and environmental existence. Since water is essential for the survival of humans, there is the need to examine how water resources are managed, especially in rural communities. Against this backdrop, this study sought to examine the water management practices of selected communities in Sekyere South district of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The purpose was to determine the level of participation of the community in the water management, the challenges associated with the water management practices, and the sustainable solutions to deal with the challenges. To achieve these objectives, questionnaires and interview guide were developed to collect data from respondents and water committee members respectively. A Total of 100 questionnaires were administered to households of two communities within the Sekyere South District. Six water committee members were purposively selected and interviewed on wide range of issues regarding the subject under consideration. The result of the study revealed that even though the level of participation of households and water committee members in the initiation and maintenance of water facilities are high, the water supply within the selected communities leaves much to be desired. It was observed that financial, technical, institutional and environmental challenges are affecting quality water delivery within the district. Also, the participants of the study indicated that for adequate management of water resources, enough water systems should be developed, while giving water committee members adequate training to manage the water resources. The study recommends, among others, that rural communities should be empowered to initiate and maintain water facilities through financial and technical support.