Performance Assessment of Boreholes for Domestic Water Supply in the Tolon District of Ghana

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the performance and functionality of boreholes for domestic water use in the Tolon District of the Northern Region of Ghana.  A total of 115 boreholes were studied with 75.8% being functional whilst 24.2% were defunct. All the boreholes suffered different levels of breakdowns depending on frequency of use. Some of the causes of the breakdowns were negligence and careless operations coupled with lack of policies on the use of the facilities. Twelve (12) litres plastic containers and stop watch were used to determine the discharge of the boreholes. The discharge of the functioning boreholes ranged from 3 – 18 Lmin-1. The discharge was plotted against the depth in a regression graph, which showed a negative correlation. The boreholes had a minimum and maximum depths of 35 m and 75 m, respectively. The study recommended that there should be more borehole facilities to minimize water scarcity in the district. It is also recommended that the borehole facilities should be fenced to prevent them from being damaged by animals and children. There should be routine maintenance of the boreholes to ensure sustainable domestic water supply in the district. The broken boreholes should be repaired on time to prevent water shortage in the communities. Water and Sanitation Committee (WatSan) should be proactive in the operation and maintenance of the boreholes. Also, women should be included in the water management committees and their opinions should be acknowledged.