HE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF FRESHWATER SCARCITY IN THE BUILSA DISTRICT

ABSTRACT

The research is a descriptive study that examined freshwater scarcity in the Builsa District and its socio-economic implications. The main objective of the study was to examine the phenomenon of freshwater scarcity in the Bulisa District and how it impacted socially and economically on the people. The specific objectives include, identifying the factors that were responsible for the scarcity of freshwater, the effects of freshwater on the socio-economic lives of the people and to ascertain how the existing water bodies in the district were being managed to ensure their continued existence for socio-economic development. The methods used in collecting the data were interviews. The study shows that the scarcity of freshwater in the Builsa District emanates from factors that were interconnected. They were both natural and manmade which include poor rainfall, poor agricultural methods, bush burning and deforestation which exposed the area to periodic drought. Though the main economic activity of the people in the district was farming, the study revealed that there were not enough water conservation systems in the district for the people to be engaged all year round and especially in the dry season. It was also revealed that organisations such as District Water and Sanitation Team (DWST) and Water and Sanitation committees (WATSAN) were not functional and this compounded the problem. Recommendations offered in the study were that community members should see water as a valuable asset and stay away from all practices that threaten the existence of water bodies.