Climate Change, On-Site Sanitation, and Water Quality Challenges in Low-Income Communities of Cape Coast, Ghana.

Joseph Zume, Department of Geography & Earth Science, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg
Simon Mariwah, University of Cape Coast

Urban areas in Sub-Saharan Africa often have poor storm drainage systems and face challenges with solid and liquid waste management. In low-income communities, there is a heavy reliance on on-site sanitation and groundwater, mostly accessed through hand-dug wells. The proximity of these wells to sanitation facilities poses a significant risk of groundwater contamination. Coastal areas face additional threats from sea level rise and frequent flooding. This study examined the impacts of on-site sanitation and climate change on groundwater quality in five low-income communities in Cape Coast, Ghana. These communities depend heavily on both on-site sanitation and shallow groundwater for domestic use. A total of 102 wells were sampled and analysed for enteric bacteria (E. coli, faecal coliform, and total coliform) and various physicochemical parameters. Temperature and precipitation data were also analysed to assess groundwater vulnerability to flooding. The results reveal widespread faecal contamination and evidence of saltwater intrusion. Increasing flood frequency and magnitude exacerbate these issues. These findings underscore the need for improved groundwater resource management and have broader policy implications for similar settings across Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: Population, Environment, and Climate Change, Population and Development, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination

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