A growing quest in the mind of man today is to establish a balance equation between his activities and the available freshwater. Trillion of dollars have been spent worldwide to reduce water shortages, but governments and stakeholders ubiquitously have failed to empower the city dwellers and to ambush the challenges to pipe borne water supply. In many parts of developing countries including Cameroon, population growth , urbanization and water demands are rising rapidly, whereas water availability, quality, reliability, frequency and distribution are decreasing rapidly due to planning deficiencies, inefficient management and deterioration. This study aimed at examining the patterns of pipe borne water supply in the Buea Municipality, challenges and municipal response. A sample size of 120 inhabitants was taken to represent the entire population in the study area. Simple random sampling technique was then used to identify the most appropriate respondents and locations. Findings were analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS), Microsoft excel and represented in the form of tables and figures. Findings revealed that, there is limited water supply reliability, access and distribution in the Buea Municipality attributed to physical and anthropological influences such as inadequate water supply, degradation and poor water management by the municipal authorities. The study look forward to giving recommendations of the use of water storage devices such as water tanks as a short term strategy and the extension of pipes distribution lines to be in direct proportion with population growth among others.

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Water supply system has played a significant role in the growth, development and wellbeing of cities. Until now, meeting the need of city residents in terms of availability, reliability, and access to a good quality water supply is a major challenge facing many denizens of the 21st Century due to unprecedented urban growth and urbanization rates. This study is out to examine the current issues and challenges to water supply systems in Limbe. The study adopted the mix method approach which involves triangulation of quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Primary data were obtained from field observations, interviews and the administration of 383 questionnaires to households and stakeholders. Secondary data were obtained from relevant official documents, published and unpublished sources relevant to water supply systems. Satellite imageries and ArcGIS were used to describe the pattern of growth in built-up areas between 1986 and 2019. Data from the questionnaire were entered using Epi Data Version 3.1, analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science Standard version 21.0 and Microsoft Excel and presented in the form of tables, figures, plates and maps. Findings revealed that, although the water supply accessibility by utilities has improved significantly, the reliability, distribution, flow frequency, supply, price and quality are still low. The inaccessibility and unreliability in the water supply have turned most households to alternative sources with poor quality. Unsustain urbanization and urban growth are occurring through infills in city remaining open spaces and ‘out spill’ and expansion at the outskirt without a concurrent increase, upgrading or extension of water supply infrastructural systems resulting to congestion, conflict over allocation, long-distance trekking to source water, deterioration of basic social services, pollution, inaccessibility amongst to ensure efficient water supply systems and sustainable urban water management. The paper, therefore, calls for the rehabilitation and renovation of dilapidated water supply structures, extension and upgrading basic services, limit urbanization and urban growth, encourage the construction and use of alternative water sources, community participation amongst others for sustainable urban water supply management.

Household latrines remain one of the most vital aspects of housing facilities neglected in housing development in fast growing urban peripheral zones. The existence of dilapidated latrines has become the new normal in the Bomaka locality and with the associated health consequences. This study sought to investigate the implications of poor household latrines (independent variable) in the Bomaka locality on the health conditions of the inhabitants (dependent variable). The study employed the mixed research design (triangulation) combining the observational and exploratory methods with emphasis on both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Field observations, questionnaires administration, interviews and focused group discussions were the primary data sources while consultation of online and offline documents and the data bases of health facilities were secondary sources of data.  The target population was all the households and their toilets stratified into three neighbourhoods following the high priority streets namely the Chief, Kawah and Miss Bright Streets. The population was stratified into classes based on their education, income and occupational status. Through the multistage sampling procedure of stratified random sampling, a total of 150 individuals were selected as respondents. Both descriptive (percentiles) and inferential (correlation analysis) statistical tool were used to process the data to establish the results. Results revealed that majority (69.5%) of the inhabitants owned household latrines with the bulk being outdoor pit toilets (79.5%) followed by external water closets (8.5%). Furthermore, most of the toilets were constructed with plank material (53.3%) with up to 20% of the toilets being open air (unconstructed). A high proportion (67.2%) of the toilets are very poorly constructed and also the man-toilet ratio is very high thereby creating much inconveniences during rush hour periods (mornings and evening). It was established that the dismal toilet facilities have induced significant health problems with the prevalence of infectious diseases dominated by intestinal diseases (56.4%) as diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera, which are suffered by 3 persons out of every 10 members of the households.  Individuals do adapt to the challenges of poor latrines by defecating in nearby bushy areas and streams, and also in plastic bags for disposal later. This leads to the constant pollution of our water sources and food. This work recommends that the Bomaka locality offers many livelihood options to its population and therefore, adequate sensitisation campaigns, better toilet infrastructural development should be carried out to enhance the level of sanitation and well-being of individual in the locality. Also, regular inspection tours by council hygiene and sanitation department and support NGOs stand out as vital solutions to redress this worsening situation.