Spatial Database Development for Estimating Drinking Water Supply Needs Assessment : The Case Study of Ebolowa II Sub-Division Council

Abstract

Context and background Access to drinking water remains a major challenge in secondary urban councils of developing countries, owing to rapid demographic growth, ageing hydraulic infrastructure, and the absence of adequate spatial management tools. The Ebolowa II sub-divisional council, South Region of Cameroon, exemplifies this situation: several neighbourhoods (quarters) remain insufficiently served, with structural imbalances between available supply and actual population demand. Goal and Objectives This study designs a spatial database (SDB) to assess current and future drinking water supply (DWS) needs in Ebolowa II, in order to inventory infrastructure, quantify the supply-demand balance, identify priority zones, and support evidence-based planning. Methodology A georeferenced inventory of 94 hydraulic infrastructure units across 94 quarters (three zones: central urban, peri-urban, rural) was conducted through GPS field surveys (SW Maps, KoboCollect), satellite image analysis, and household/institutional surveys. Conceptual modelling followed the MERISE method (CDM/LDM, 8 entities), and the SDB was implemented under PostgreSQL 17/PostGIS 3.4, coupled with ArcGIS Pro 3.6. Demographic projections used Pn = P0 × (1.026)ⁿ to 2035. A five-criteria weighted overlay identified priority intervention zones. Results The system shows an overall coverage rate of 48% in 2026 (effective supply 3,400 m³/day; total demand 5,842 m³/day; deficit ≈ 2,442 m³/day), concentrated in 49 of 94 quarters. The SDB integrates 14 data layers and automated PL/pgSQL functions. A targeted-extension scenario (850 million FCFA) raises coverage to 46–74% by 2035; a comprehensive scenario (2.45 billion FCFA) reaches 71–100% by 2035, in line with Sustainable Development Goals 6.