Prusu – Buckets Over Books: How water scarcity is stealing school and health

Clean water for all was the promise, but in Prusu, a farming community in the Nkoranza South Municipality of the Bono East Region, that promise remains unfulfilled. Faustina Denteh, a 15-year-old JHS 1 pupil, begins her day by carrying a jerrycan on her head, walking over three kilometers to the Pru River in search of water. This daily journey is taking a toll on her education, health, and childhood.

Prusu was once promised five water sources – two mechanized boreholes and three handpumps – to end the search for safe water. However, today, the few remaining boreholes present health risks due to high fluoride content, making the water salty and unsafe to drink. The other mechanized boreholes in the area are completely dysfunctional, leaving families with no choice but to rely on the contaminated Pru River.

The crisis's impact on daily life is evident in the classrooms. Faustina returns home late from fetching water, often missing contact hours at school. This is not an isolated case; community members reveal that many children are trading their lessons for long treks to fetch water. Girls bear the heaviest burden, as fetching water is traditionally seen as their responsibility.

The community's health is deteriorating due to the polluted water source. Water-borne diseases, such as typhoid, are prevalent as families drink from the same river that receives waste. With no toilet facilities, human waste is often washed into the river during rainfall, further contaminating the water. Consequently, residents suffer from fever, stomach cramps, and fatigue, hindering their ability to play and focus on their daily activities.

Some residents have turned the crisis into a business opportunity. Sachet water sellers are thriving as residents lack alternative safe water options. Families are now forced to purchase bottled water during the rainy season when the river becomes even dirtier and more dangerous. This financial burden adds to the already tight household budgets in a community where income is largely dependent on seasonal farming.

Despite Ghana's national water coverage improvements, Prusu remains in a dire situation with contaminated boreholes, dysfunctional systems, and inadequate sanitation. Residents accuse the Nkoranza South Municipal Assembly of neglecting their plight, despite numerous appeals for assistance. They demand the repair of malfunctioning boreholes, water testing and treatment to address the fluoride issue, and the construction of toilets to protect the river.

Until these issues are addressed, the long walk for water continues, with Faustina Denteh and countless other residents of Prusu struggling to balance their daily responsibilities and access to clean water.