Water supply coping strategies in Accra

Many areas in Accra, the capital city of Ghana are experiencing shortfalls in water supply from the urban water utility, Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) resulting in various means of coping. This study examined the various coping strategies and the cost of coping based on a survey carried out among 170 households in Accra. The coping strategies were buying from neighbours, water tanker operators, building water storage facilities and buying bottled and sachet water for drinking. Coping strategies and cost for different income groups in Accra are discussed. High income consumers buying directly from tanker operators pay 7 times GWCL lifeline rate, Low income consumers buying from neighbours/vendors were paying 10 -13 times GWCL rates. The cost of sachet water was 150 times GWCL rates and that for bottled water was 900 times GWCL lifeline rate per cubic meter.