Increasing Challenges of Potable Water Supply and Its Implications on the Population of Buea Municipality, Cameroon

The increasing challenges of potable water supply on the population of Buea municipality, Camerooon, if not monitored and effectively managed by government and all the local communities (stake holders) will be very detrimental to the municipality. The water demand of the growing population of Municipality is supplied by CAMWATER (Cameroon Water Utilities Corporation) and the local communities involved in potable water management. This study employed the use of a purposive systematic random sampling technique and focus group discussion among the community dwellers to evaluate the implications of potable water scarcity. A total of 350 questionnaires were administered in the field, interviews were conducted with water supply authorities and various stake holders in the municipality to identify the major problems faced by the inhabitants of Buea as a result of potable water supply challenges. Results revealed that about 27% of the population of Buea faces frequent water shortages, 32% and 41% of the respondents stated that the main causes of water supply challenges are poor management of potable water by the authorities concerned and over exploitation of water sources by the increasing population respectively. Besides the human factors mentioned above, changing climatic conditions worsen these challenges. In conclusion, over exploitation of potable water sources by the population and poor management by the authorities concerned stands as a major driver of the challenges of water scarcity in the Buea municipality. As such, we recommend an integrated water management approach as a means of making potable water supply challenges less problematic to the population of Buea.