The climate in the area is generally arid, which has resulted in migration to the larger cities. The economic development is largely based on agriculture and food processing industry. Presently, there is an existing water treatment plant (WTP) located at Gowrie with the water source from the Vea dam, supplying both cities but with inadequate capacity. After the expected system change, this WTP will dedicate supply to Bongo and its surroundings. The raw water source for this system,; the Vea irrigation reservoir, is about exploited to its limit, hence eliminates the possibility of extended use.

A new raw water source and a new WTP are envisaged to supply the city of Bolgatanga, Navrongo, Paga and their immediate environs. The raw water source is the very large Tono irrigation reservoir, close to Navrongo which is capable to meet future demand of 2030.

Project aim
The project is primarily to build a new water system on the Tono Irrigation Dam and thereby making available 10,000 m3 (2 million gallons) treated water to be supplied daily to Bolgatanga, Navrongo, Paga, Zuarungu and surrounding towns and communities.

Financing
The project is financed through concessional funding. The total project cost of € 37.683.266,00 is financed by € 25.341.958,00 loan form ING Bank NV of Belgium and € 12.341.308,00 grant from Netherlands Government through ORIO.

Project scope
This involves the design and construction of - new raw water intake at the Tono reservoir, including pumping station and raw water transmission pipeline, - a new water treatment plant located at Tono - 67 km of new transmission pipelines to transport drinking water from the Tono water treatment plant to the supply areas in Navrongo, Bolgatanga and Paga, - 50 km new distribution network to transport drinkwing water to consumers in Navrongo, Bolgatanga and Paga, - new elevated reservoir, - rehabilitation of the existing Voa water treatment plant for improved water transmission and distribution to Bongo and its environs, - and provision of 400 No. standpipes.