Domestic water supply in Accra: how physical and social constraints to planning have greater consequences for the poor.

Water supply and distribution in Accra is challenged by a mix of technical, institutional and social constraints. In a complex context, many reasons help explain why water supply is not meeting demand at both the city as well as area level. This paper describes the water situation in Accra and in two distinctive areas, characterised by the presence or absence of piped water distribution infrastructure. Access to domestic water and reliability is much worse in these areas and consumers generally spend between 4 and 18 times the normal tariff that is charged to consumers with direct access to piped water. The social and physical constraints to planning are affecting the poor more than the rich in terms of access and affordability. It is proposed to Accra’s water managers that ensuring a small increase in water infrastructure will allow for better access to water for commercialisation by SWE’s, breaking the monopoly, and in turn lowering water prices substantially for the poor.