Abstract

Groundwater is an essential global resource and provides the largest store of freshwater, apart from the ice caps. This project aims to give an understanding of the distribution of boreholes and its impacts on the population of the Molyko neighborhood Buea.

This study was aimed at fulfilling the following objectives; to examine the distribution of boreholes within the Molyko neighborhood, to evaluate the impact of boreholes on the population of Molyko neighborhood, to ascertain the factors behind borehole installation within the Molyko neighborhood, and to suggest possible strategies that will help improve borehole installation within the Molyko neighborhood.

Data for this study were collected from primary sources (questionnaires, field observations and GPS), and secondary sources (related literature, articles from online sources). The primary data were collected from inhabitants of the study area and also from field observations and GPS app. The questionnaires were administered randomly to 60 respondents on the field.

The analysis was done using standardized statistics and Pearson chi-square test. The information from the data were presented on tables, graphs and pie charts. The result revealed that the p-value of 0.182 is greater than the assumed alpha value of 0.05, concluding that “water availability is a function of the number of boreholes in the Molyko neighborhood”.

It was also realized that p-value 0.000 is less than the assumed alpha value of 0.05, which concluded that “population growth is responsible for the increase the construction and distribution of boreholes in the Molyko neighborhood. Finds show that, the distribution of boreholes in the Molyko neighborhood using the information from the distribution table and map of boreholes within the localities of Molyko is uneven as some localities in the neighborhood still lack access to water and borehole in particular.

As localities such as Malingo with 52 boreholes, Dirty south 35 boreholes, Mayor street 34 boreholes, and Ndongo 25 boreholes has the highest number of boreholes from 20 and above, while localities with a few number of boreholes below 20 are; UB junction 15 boreholes, Chief street 19 boreholes, Nextel street 15 boreholes, Behind Orange 3 boreholes, Limbe quarter 10 boreholes and Sosoliso 15 boreholes.

Also findings show that, the cost for the installation of boreholes within Molyko is approximately between 17.000.000fcfa (40%) followed by (35%) of respondents who said they do not know the cost of installation, (20%) said it cost 1.500.000fcfa and (5%) were of the opinion that it cost 1.550.000fcfa. findings also show that, the year of installation of boreholes within Molyko were of the opinion that majority (41.7%) of the boreholes were installed between 2021- 2023, followed by 2015-2020 (33.3%), and 2015 below (25%). More so, findings show that, 85% of the population in Molyko have not had water shortages while 15% still suffer from water shortage.

Moreover, findings show that, the factors influencing the installation of borehole installation were distance to the nearest water source 30%, population growth 29%, high water demand 21% and water scarcity 20%.

Also it was found that 70% of respondents accepted that the current borehole water is meeting their water needs while 30% denied that the current borehole installed has not met their water needs. The study gave the following recommendations. The Government should allocate enough budget or funds to finance borehole projects, N.G.Os should intensify their efforts to sensitize the general public on the importance of community participation in borehole distribution and its role to the community and environment, more seminars and workshops should be organized to educate the local population, More research should be carried out on borehole distribution and management.

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