Quantifying the cost of community water supply services : case of Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District (BAKD), Ghana

Accessibility to good and adequate water on sustainable basis is a fundamental need and right of the individual for survival. In Ghana, focus of water sector agencies is mainly on investment in new schemes compared to cost of running existing schemes. Availability of funds to cover cost components such as capital maintenance, operation and minor maintenance and support costs is critical for sustainability of the existing schemes. This paper determines the capital maintenance, operation and minor maintenance and support costs of water supply services and the quality delivered to the end-users. The study was conducted on four water supply schemes (one Small Town Water Supply Scheme (STWSS) in Kuntanase and three boreholes with Hand pump in Kuntanase, Abono and Petriensa. Data on costs were provided by the District Assembly, Water Board and WATSAN committees. Customer quality of service was obtained via household questionnaires. Using an average inflation rate of 15%, the results revealed that the cost of providing water from the water scheme range from GH¢ 1.97 to GH¢4.98 per capita per year. The annual capital maintenance, operation and minor maintenance, and support costs was estimated to be 47% of the investment cost of the STWSS. That of the hand pumps range from 17-40% of the investment cost. The paper discusses the relationship between the cost components and the average household expenditure on water. [authors abstract]

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