ABSTRACT

This study is based on the topic potable water management, constraints and perspective in Nkambe town. Potable water is of almost importance to mankind. This management of potable water has been under constraint and challenges where both develop and under developed countries are challenged by the sustainable management and provision to the population. Though technology has been tackling the improvement in the management and provision of potable water, the improvement has not hit the corners of Nkambe town as potable water management is still a problem and need to be addressed. In this line, the study seeks to understand the various types of potables in Nkambe town, the challenges to potable water management and the various measures used in improving the potable water management in the town.

The study employed a variety of methods to collect and arrived at the result. These methods are secondary methods where the research made used of journals, website and libraries, also, primary method used were interviews, observation and administration of questionnaires. A sample size of 100 was deduced using the Taro Yamane formula (1997) of n=N/1+N (e2).

The field results shows that there exist variety of water management schemes in Nkambe which are pump water management scheme, gravitational water management scheme, rain harvest management scheme and surface water management scheme. While there are challenges to potable water management. These challenges were farming around water source areas (80%), deforestation at watersheds (76%), miss management of water projects (82%), gender imbalance (61%), population increase (79%) and poor maintenance of pipelines (68%). The study source out some sustainable measures of potable water management such as rationing, equitable distribution of potable water and sensitization of the population of potable water issues. The study concludes by recommending that that was financial supports, partnering, sanitization of the population on sustainable potable water management and monitor potable water consumed the potable, drafted to the water management team, stakeholders and individuals partaking in potable water management in and out of Nkambe town.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1: Background to the study

Water may be everywhere, but its use has always been constrained in terms of availability, quantity and quality. Globally water management or water resource management is explained as a process of planning, developing and management of the available water resource in terms of its quality, quantity, availability and accessibility. Sustainable management of potable water has been an outstanding problem faced by the world and a greater challenge of it is seen in Africa, Cameroon and more specifically Nkambe. This challenge has continued globally due to the lack of non-reusable means to potable water (John R 2020). This is with regards to water wastage in homes had little or no recycling center and means practice. The intentional use of highly treated urban wastewater, known as reclaimed water, can increase water availability and decrease effluent disposal. Given that advanced water treatment technologies and management are able to produce reclaimed water that meets or exceeds drinking water standards. National Research Council USA, (2012). Water industry professionals, scholars, and city planners increasingly consider the reuse of highly treated urban wastewater for drinking water purposes as a pragmatic response to growing demand United States Environmental Protection Agency, (2017). This growing demand is mostly as a result of population increase, climate change, and others. Thus, many todays in the advance worlds recycle or treat waste water for potable drinking and house chores. This management strategies and projects are visible in advance countries like California, United States, Singapore, Australia, UK and Belgium (Emmanuel, 2022).

Efforts in water resource management are directed at optimizing the use of water and in minimizing the wastage of water. Solutions to water problems depend not only on water availability, but also on many other factors such as: the processes through which water is managed; competence and capacities of the institutions (private and government) that managed them; prevailing socio-political conditions that dictate water planning; development and management processes and practices Ivey (2004) Biswas (2004).

In Africa and Cameroon, these management strategies become poorly used due to poor facilities and capabilities to Sustainable managed such initiative. In as much as that, many Africans have a poor notion of consuming recycled waste and introducing this aspect African countries and country site face problems of acceptance (Ormerod, 2016). To this effect, adopted perspective by the local communities turn to adapt the Community Base water resource management strategies where everyone has a say and also the introduction or other actors and stakeholders to assist in its management for Sustainability (Ndicha, 2012). That notwithstanding, many Communities and other stakeholders are gradually introducing the aspects of potable water reuse and improving the local methods of recycling and management (Bichel, 2012). Some of the improve management strategies introduce are injecting the water into an aquifer or releasing it into lake or reservoir, to be later extracted and treated for drinking water consumption. On the other hand, potable water constrain has not only push the population to innovativeness but also to adopt other means of getting potable water. This is as many today turn to consume water and harvest from rain, spring, as well as wells and bore holes to reduce the challenges (Bantar, 2021).

To be more specific in Nkambe town today, we have governments, non-governmental organizations and business organizations all over the world working extremely hard to create awareness about the continue rise in water scarcity. Thus, the need for sustainability perspective in its usage especially in this study area where Cam Water are actively working with the population (Nkambe CDP, 2012). Thus, the success of potable water project has depended on the community intervention and investments. The understanding of the challenges where their institutions participating in the potable water management, constrain and distribution (supply) can be achieved is not just in Nkambe town but other areas to meet up the 2030 sustainable goal which aims at universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030.

1.2: Statement of the research problem

In Nkambe town water supply to rural communities is in the hands of most communities who take initiative (creating community water projects) to meet the need of the population. If water as it is said is life, then Nkambe could have been a lifeless community because of the frequent shortages of water in most of its quarters. This has been with the increasing demand for agricultural and domestic usage. To this effect, the Potable Water management has become a major issue in this Community.

In addition, in as much as there’s is increased in demand and population, management and governance are seriously a drawback as regards to water. Though most of the water sources are of natural origin, proper and sustainable measures are lacking a situation that is worrisome in the study area.

  Nkambe is fast growing in terms of infrastructural and population. This has a great impact on water availability as the infrastructure and population turned to encroached in water catchment areas. This has affected the water availability as most of these catchments and streams have disappeared giving room for settlement and agricultural activities. Thus effecting the water availability, especially catchments and streams which are main sources of potable water in Nkambe Town.

1.3.1: Research Questions

1.3.1.1: Main research question

 How does potable water management work in Nkambe town?

1.3.1.2. Specific questions

1. What types of potable water schemes exist in Nkambe town?
2. What are the challenges (constraints) of potable water management schemes in Nkambe town?
3. What are the measures to address these potable water management challenges in Nkambe town?

1.3.2: Research objective

1.3.2.1: Main objective

To examine contributions of Potable water management schemes in Nkambe town

1.3.2.2: Specific objectives

1. To examine the various water management schemes in Nkambe town
2. The examine the challenges of potable water management in Nkambe town
3. To sort for sustainable potable water management techniques.