Access and Sustainability of Water Point Sources in Sekyere Kumawu District

Abstract

The “3K Project” has increased the number of water point sources and the quantity of water available to Sekyere Kumawu District, however, community settlers still struggle to get potable water. The study, therefore, sought to examine the accessibility and sustainability of water point sources in the Sekyere Kumawu District. The descriptive survey was employed. Mixed approach; both quantitative and qualitative research designs were used in the study. Primary data were sourced using structured questionnaires, interview guide and field observations. Multiple stage sampling techniques was employed to select 390 households while 9 key stakeholders were purposively selected. The Statistical Product and Service Solutions was used to process and analyse the data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequencies, percentages, crosstabs, Pearson Chi-square and paired sample t-test were used in the data analysis to arrive at key findings. Also, interviews were manually transcribed, coded, grouped into themes and used appropriately to either confirm or reject the quantitative analyses whereas observations in the form of pictures from the field were also presented in plates to support the findings from questionnaires and interviews. It was found out that among the various water point sources in the district, pipe borne water was preferred for drinking due to its hygienic nature and quality. It is therefore, recommended that the District Assembly should liaise with water and sanitation NGOs and GWCL to finance water projects expansion within the communities, especially areas where there were spatially deficiency in the water point sources or under-coverage and to newly developed areas in a bid to improve accessibility, especially to access safely managed drinking water services.