The provision of water supply and sanitation services requires a judicious balance of technological, organizational. managerial and legal measures. National policies should be spelled out and embodied in national sectoral planning, produced under the direction of a co-ordinating central body. Implementation agencies should follow the plan and directives laid down by the sectoral plan. Planning criteria for programme and project assessment should emphasize the need to consider different alternatives for augmentation of available water supplies. Sectoral planning and organization of executing agencies must take into account the active participation and support of users. Operation and maintenance can be improved through appropriate monitoring. rehabilitation and special training. Adequate operation, maintenance and rehabilitation will reduce investment needs. Legal rules should be precise. Hexible and objective-orientated. Properly designed education campaigns are the most cost-effective alternative for improving drinking-water supply and sanitation programmes.

Developing nations like Ghana, cannot afford to adopt a “wait to see” policy with their water environment. We must develop and/or strengthen infrastructure needed to maintain a healthy environment. In our eagerness to industrialize, care must be taken not to repeat mistakes of industrialized nations. Water quality monitoring activities should be streamlined and properly coordinated to develop good pollution control measures. We must research into and provide pollution control alternatives suitable for our particular environment.

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