Assessment of Off-season Water Supply Situation: The Case of Abetifi in the Kwahu-East District of Ghana

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the characterising features of off-season water supplies in the Kwahu-Abetifi Township, situated in the Kwahu-East District of Ghana. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was employed for this research. The study was conducted in the Kwahu East district of Ghana during August 2017 to December 2017. A stratified sampling technique was employed to select 200 respondents for this study. Respondents were interviewed using prepared and validated questionnaires. Data obtained from the completed questionnaires were analysed by using the statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The community people including school-going children, covered long distances and stayed in long queues to access water. They, however, spend long time in accessing water for their use in homes during the dry season. Durations respondents (n= 200) used in accessing water and returning to their homes were as follows: Approximately 15 minutes (10%); 20 minutes (16%); 35 minutes (22%); and more than 40 minutes (52%). The accessed water was perceived to be good (68%) and could be used for several domestic purposes including drinking (19%), cooking (47%), bathing and washing (34%). The study underscored the need for the revamp of broken down water supply systems in the study area and expansion of existing ones by Government to ease and improve accessibility for adequate and potable water supplies mainly during the dry season.