journal article Open Access Jun 15, 2020

Rainwater harvesting and primary uses among rural communities in Ghana

View at Publisher Save 10.2166/washdev.2020.059
Abstract
AbstractRainwater harvesting (RWH) has been practised over many decades for various purposes, including domestic use. The practice contributes largely to sustainable development in terms of providing ‘free’ water to many people. This study assessed the primary uses and benefits of rainwater to rural residents by conducting a questionnaire survey of 48 households actively practising RWH. Samples of the rainwater were also tested in the laboratory to examine the quality and potential health risks. The results show that rainwater was used for potable and non-potable purposes by the locals particularly in the rainy season. Bathing accounted for the most use (53%), while the potable use was just 7%. The majority of users (73%) reported a positive impact of the practice on their lives, and the reliability of rainwater was highly ranked. The physicochemical properties of rainwater were good, but the study highlights the need for better management of the technology to ensure optimal quality. Overall, the findings provide substantial evidence on the benefits of harvesting rainwater and recommend greater use of rainwater, especially in areas with no or limited access to a public water supply.
Topics

No keywords indexed for this article. Browse by subject →

References
28
[1]
"Assessing the potential for rainwater harvesting" Water Resources Management (2010) 10.1007/s11269-009-9542-y
[2]
"Status of rainwater harvesting (RWH) in Ghana" Current World Environment (2018) 10.12944/cwe.13.1.17
[3]
"Assessment of rainfall variability, rainwater harvesting potential and storage requirements in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State in South-western Nigeria" Cogent Environmental Science (2016) 10.1080/23311843.2016.1138597
[4]
Barnes D. A. 2009 Assessment of Rainwater Harvesting in Northern Ghana. Published Master's Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts.
[5]
(2009)
[6]
CEHI (2009)
[7]
(2008)
[8]
"Water as a stress factor in sub-Saharan Africa" Population (2015)
[9]
GSS 2013 Regional Analytical Report: Eastern Region. Ghana Statistical Service, Accra, Ghana.
[10]
GSS 2016 2015 Labour Force Report. Ghana Statistical Service, Accra, Ghana.
[11]
GSS (2020)
[12]
"Rainwater as a source of drinking water: health impacts and rainwater treatment" Journal of Environmental and Public Health (2019)
[13]
(2005)
[14]
"Assessing the impacts of climate change on water resources: the sub-Saharan Africa perspective" Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development (2015)
[15]
"Assessment of rainwater harvesting potential and challenges in Ijebu-Ode, southwestern part of Nigeria for strategic advice" Scientific Annals of ‘Alexandru Ioan Cuza’, University of Iasi (2015)
[16]
"Rainwater harvesting: an option for sustainable rural water supply in Ghana" GeoJournal (2012) 10.1007/s10708-011-9418-6
[17]
"Water pollution: sources, effects, control and management" Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences (2013)
[18]
"Supplementing urban water supply with rainwater harvesting in Accra, Ghana" International Journal of Water Resources Development (2015) 10.1080/07900627.2014.927752
[19]
"Assessing land suitability for aquifer storage and recharge in northern Ghana using remote sensing and GIS multi-criteria decision analysis technique" Modeling Earth Systems and Environment (2017) 10.1007/s40808-017-0360-6
[20]
(2012)
[21]
"Sustainability of rainwater harvesting system in terms of water quality" Scientific World Journal (2014)
[22]
"Pollution of surface and ground water by sources related to agricultural activities" Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (2018) 10.3389/fsufs.2018.00042
[23]
(2006)
[24]
UNEP (1998)
[25]
UNICEF (2019)
[26]
"Investigation of the current situation and prospects for the development of rainwater harvesting as a tool to confront water scarcity worldwide" Water (2019) 10.3390/w11102168
[27]
Zakaria I. 2011 Appropriate Rainwater Harvesting and Domestic Water Quality: A Case Study of Central Gonja District. Doctoral Dissertation.
[28]
"Rainwater Harvesting System for Dormitories of Metu-Northern Cyprus Campus" (2013)
Metrics
23
Citations
28
References
Details
Published
Jun 15, 2020
Vol/Issue
10(3)
Pages
502-511
License
View
Cite This Article
Seth Owusu, Rachel Asante (2020). Rainwater harvesting and primary uses among rural communities in Ghana. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 10(3), 502-511. https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2020.059