Projects : Tolon - Kumbugu
Drilling for groundwater in the Tolon - Kumbugu district has also proven unsuccessful. Other than open catchment basins, which dry up in the dry season (December - May) the villages have no source of water. There are no rivers or other bodies of water nearby. The dam is the only source of water. (A dam in Ghana is more of a reservoir - a large pit which collects water during the rainy season for use during the dry season.) Based on numerous unsuccessful borehole-drilling efforts these dams are likely to remain the only sources of water for around 6 months of the year.
Above: Gburimani Dam, Tolon-Kumbungu District, Northern Region
Combined with the filtration system, the solar-powered water delivery system will bring the water closer to a large number of the people utilizing the dam. Today the water system is approximately 2 kms from the main village served which is Chirifoyili. It is anywhere from 1 - 4 kms from the other villages served. This means that even after collecting the contaminated water, women must carry it 1-4 kms to get it home.
There also is no source of water for animals (cows, goats, etc.). While some dams do have a separate storage area for animals, Chirifoyili does not. A separate area will be created for animals to obtain water, so they do not share the major source with humans. This area will be fed by the dam water.
Finally, the district is highly Guinea worm-endemic. Ghana was the most Guinea worm-endemic country in the world in 2004. Tolon - Kumbugu district was the second most endemic district, out of 138 districts in Ghana. The village of Chirifoyili was the third leading transmission source of Guinea worm in Ghana in 2004. A total of 270 cases of Guinea worm were recorded in the 14 villages surrounding this dam in 2004.
Learn more about organizations who have partnered with WaterPlus for this project on our Partners page.
Further project information is available by contacting Ron Cowan at rotaryron@aol.com.
Detailed project information for Tolon-Kumbugu District :
This project will improve a dam located 1-4 kilometers from the villages it serves. This dam was created in the mid 1980's after numerous drilling attempts to find water in the area resulted in dry holes. Since the dam was created, additional drilling attempts have also been made to find water, without success. Drilling for ground water has proven difficult throughout the entire area. Hence the dam is the only source of water available to the community. Funds are needed to improve the quality of the water through filtration, bringing the source closer to the people and automating the delivery process through a solar powered pumping system. Certain structural changes will also occur as part of the process as a result of the grant, such as creating a separate water pool for animals and repairing a spillway which has broken, and is critical for containing sufficient volume of water to last the dry season.
The Chirifoyili reservoir (dam) was originally created by an organization called Village Water Reservoirs with funding from the Catholic Church and the Dutch Government. Village Water remains in existence today, and is located in Tamale (about 50 kilometers from the Chirifoyili Dam). The structural changes to be performed to this dam will be done by Village Water. They have the drawings and know how to accomplish these tasks (such as knowledge of the water flow necessary for cleaning the current system and the creation of the filtering system). In addition, they will be responsible for fixing a spillway which will allow the dam to retain additional water to offset anticipated increased use as a result of the solar system installed.
As part of the process, consumers will be asked to pay for the water they use for the first time. The amount is expected to be 100 Cedis (or about $.01) for each bucket taken. The final amount will be decided by the community and will be used for maintenance of the existing system once in place.
Finally, control of disease will be the primary goal of the effort. In addition to reducing dysentery and controlling against cholera, Guinea worm is highly endemic in the area of the dam. As mentioned, in 2004, it is estimated that this dam was responsible for the transmission of 270 cases of Guinea worm. The table below lists the villages to be served, the population of those villages and the number of Guinea worm cases recorded in 2004.
| Village | Population | Households | 2004 GW Case Count |
| Chirifoyili | 2950 | 492 | 75 |
| Nyorinayili | 280 | 70 | 7 |
| Kpaniyili | 684 | 165 | 40 |
| Tali Botinli | 1345 | 348 | 23 |
| Jaguroyili | 523 | 145 | 10 |
| Koblimahagu | 305 | 55 | 9 |
| Tuzeenayili | 196 | 50 | 11 |
| Tindan | 440 | 120 | 20 |
| Apeleyili | 459 | 115 | 2 |
| Kpalnaavili | 235 | 100 | 10 |
| Toroyili | 100 | 50 | 0 |
| Dalinbili | 266 | 70 | 0 |
| Nyohindaayili | 623 | 170 | 44 |
| Zoonaayili-Wayamba | 592 | 120 | 19 |
| Total | 8998 | 2070 | 270 |
The process of meeting with these communities has already begun. Local District and Guinea worm personnel meet with all communities on a regular basis to discuss Guinea worm interventions. These other interventions include filter distribution, treating of cases, chemical treatments of the dam water with abate (when possible) and village education. The discussion on improving the water system has already begun as part of these intervention meetings. These meetings will continue, and once funds have been made available, will increasingly discuss the water intervention.