Water

The major towns in the District settlements such as Wamfie, Asuotiano, Dormaa Akwamu Wamanafo Kyeremasu and Akontanim enjoy water supply from Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) pumping station at Wamfie. The District has 35 bore holes out of which ten (10) are privately owned by individuals, 6 Hand-dug wells and 21 pipe stand points. Even the few existing boreholes, majority of them are broken down due to mismanagement on the part of WATSAN members, lack of spare parts, and lack of sensitization on the usage among others.

The survey results indicated that 41.5% of households receive their drinking water from pipe-borne, 41.5% from boreholes, 1.7% from hand dug wells with pump, 9.3% from hand dug wells and 5.9% from streams. The implication is that there is no adequate access to potable drinking water in the District. This has a further effect on the health status of the people as intestinal worms and diarrhoea being water and hygiene related borne diseases have found place in the top ten diseases in the district.

Distance to Water Supply

Distance to water supply is a big problem regarding accessibility to potable water. The mere existence of water facilities would not serve its purpose unless they are closer to the people. The survey sought find out the distance of water supply in relation to households.

This means that, 73.7% had their water source below 1km, 18.4% between 1km- 1.5km and 7.9% above 1.5km. This means that averagely 26.3% travel a long distance to access potable water thus, affecting their regular supply of potable water.

Problems with Water Supply

The survey revealed that 69.5% of households had problems with their potable water supply. These problems include frequent break down of boreholes, congestions at boreholes leading to waste of time, frequent pipe cut, long distance to the water supply among others.

Sanitation Situation
Liquid Waste

The District has a total of seventeen (17) public toilets dotted among the big towns like Wamanafo, Asuotiano, Dormaa Akwamu, Kyeremasu and Wamfie which serve as capitals of the Town and Area Councils. The number and each type of facility are indicated on the table below. Table 2.3 shows the types and number of public toilets in the district whilst table 2.4 illustrates location, types and number of public toilets currently in use in the District.

In addition to the public toilets, the District has 1,412, VIPs, 91 WCs, 16 KVIPs and 60 Pit Latrines toilet for households scattered across all the communities. Some also defecate elsewhere in bushes and other hideouts. These pit latrines are normally exposed to houseflies and other elements in weather atmosphere which causes sanitation related diseases like dysentery and cholera among others. The type of toilet facilities mainly used by households in the Dormaa East District is indicated in table below.

The data collected also revealed that schools in the Dormaa East District used three (3) types of toilet facilities. The table below shows the number of toilets used in schools in the District.

Solid Waste Disposal Site

Dumping of refuse by households and other are done at approved and unapproved disposal sites. The table below depicts the dumping situation in the district. (Area council basis)

This situation applies to industries and institution like schools. The survey revealed that 32.3 litres or 0.03 cubic meters (M3) of solid waste is produced in a day per household. With regards to disposal, 61.6% of households dispose solid waste at approved open dumps, 16.9% refuse containers or refuse skips, 2.5% burning, 1.4% burying and 17.2% unapproved refuse dump sites. Some refuse dumps are chocked up and have almost engulfed some houses closer by.

With respect to accessibility to toilets, 49.4% had toilet facilities in their households. Out of this 2.8% used water closet, 30.8% used pit latrine and 15.8% used KVIP. On the other hand, those households without internal toilet facilities in their households accounted to 50.6%. From this, 41.8% accessed public toilets, 2% shares with others and 6.8% used free range.

These practices have serious health implication on the people. This is clearly depicted as malaria and diarrheoa; environmental-sanitation related diseases are placed first and fourth respectively in the top ten diseases in the District for 2008 and 2009. Hence, there is the need for evacuation of these chocked up refuse dump sites and the provision of more toilet facilities to improve the situation.