Assessing Water Resources Access of Nouhao Sub-Basin, Burkina Faso

Abstract

Water resource access in the Nouhao sub-basin, assessed based on the availability of drinking water mobilization facilities, the availability of water for uses and the quality of drinking water, revealed that in 2017 the basin was covered by 1249 modern water point, main drinking water sources. On average, the sub-basin shows a ratio of 271 users per drinking water point. Communal level shows some disparity with Bittou recording the highest number of people per drinking water point, i.e., around 537. Water that can be captured in the entire sub-basin meets only 42% of the total water needs from the three mains uses: irrigation, domestic consumption and livestock. The highest demander among these uses is Irrigation with 75% of the need, i.e., approximately 12,859,995 m 3 . Water in 33% drinking sources of this sub basin is of poor quality. Arsenic, one of the quality parameters studied, is found in some communes of the sub-basin. 11% of the water points in Bissiga are arsenic polluted making this commune the most arsenic contaminated location. The vulnerability maps deducted from lack of water for uses; lack of drinking water works and poor water quality shows so, the exposure level of the sub-basin' communes to some potential risks related to low water resources access.

Climate projection and future rainfall trends analysis in the Nouhao sub-basin in Burkina Faso.

“…Rainfall in the SBN is monitored by several stations with Dialgaye, Kominyanga, Ouargaye, Zabré, Sangha and Bittou as the main ones. In 2017, this sub-basin was host to 340,000, with water coverage for various uses of 42% (Noba et al 2023). The forest formations found in the Nouhao basin consist mainly of wooded savannah and, to a lesser extent, gallery forests (Fiédi Hakiekou 2011).…”