WR: ‘Atta Ne Atta’ residents cry for water as population growth renders community borehole inadequate 

A water crisis is intensifying in Atta Ne Atta, a farming community in the Beposo Electoral Area of the Shama Municipality. Atta Ne Atta, has a population of approximately 30,000 residents who are experiencing an increasing water shortage.

The residents are also making emergency call for the intervention of the government to extend portable drinking water to them as the  only borehole of the community faces challenges in maintaining the population growth.

The source of water which was the electric powered borehole, is now severely drained. This has resulted in  daily long queues, water conservation measures among residents. The borehole is locked as the attendant keeps the Sabbath, leaving thousands stranded to clean water for the whole day.

The residents of the Ata Ne Ata say this situation has increased sanitation issues, forcing them to rush for different sources just to meet basic needs. Emmanuel, a resident said that “We are suffering! When the borehole is locked, we have nowhere to get water. We have to walk long distances or rely on unsafe sources. For how long can we live like this.”

But water is not the most pressing concern  because sanitation in the community is also falling apart. Again, Ata Ne Ata does not have toilet facilities , worsening the living conditions.

A deteriorating school toilet is the only choice which is not only excessively used but also shared with the students. Without any choice, many of the residents defecate in the nearby underbrush, increasing the likelihood of disease outbreak. “We have no proper toilet. We are forced to use the school’s toilets, and even that is in a bad state. If you don’t want to go there, you have to go into the bush,” he said.

Feeling hopeless and helpless, residents are requesting government interventionto make  potable water supply available to the community before the situation get out of hand.