Septic Tanks, Soakaways & Boreholes in Ghana
Outside of a handful of central urban areas, most Ghanaian houses are not connected to a public sewer or guaranteed piped water supply. Planning your own waste disposal (septic tank + soakaway) and water source (borehole) is a normal, expected part of building in Ghana — and getting the siting wrong is expensive to fix later.
Do You Need a Septic System?
If your plot has no connection to a public sewer line (true for most residential plots outside central Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi), you need an on-site sewage treatment system: a septic tank paired with a soakaway (also called a leach field or drain field).
How it works
1Wastewater from toilets, kitchen, and bathrooms flows into the septic tank
2Solids settle and break down anaerobically inside the tank
3Partially treated liquid effluent flows out into the soakaway, where it filters through soil
Typical sizing (residential)
| House Size | Septic Tank Capacity |
|---|
| 2–3 bedroom | 2,000–3,000 litres |
| 4–5 bedroom | 3,000–5,000 litres |
Typical cost (2026, Accra)
▸Septic tank construction (blockwork/precast, supply + install): ₵8,000–₵18,000
▸Soakaway pit construction: ₵4,000–₵10,000
▸Combined system, standard 3-bedroom house: ₵15,000–₵28,000
Siting Rules — Why This Matters
GhBC and standard sanitation practice require minimum separation distances to prevent contamination of drinking water and structural undermining of the building:
| From | Minimum Distance |
|---|
| Septic tank/soakaway to house foundation | 3–5 m |
| Septic tank/soakaway to plot boundary | 1.5–2 m |
| Septic tank/soakaway to any well or borehole | 15–30 m (critical — never site closer) |
| Soakaway to water table | Adequate unsaturated soil depth required; a percolation test is recommended on poorly draining soils |
: placing a borehole and a septic system too close together, or downhill/uphill of each other in a way that lets effluent migrate toward the water source. Always plan both together, not sequentially.
Boreholes: Your Water Source
Where there's no reliable pipe-borne water, a borehole is the standard solution.
▸Typical depth in Ghana: 40–80m, though this varies significantly by region and local hydrogeology
▸Typical cost (2026): ₵15,000–₵35,000 including drilling, casing, and a basic pump — costs rise with depth and difficult (rocky) ground
▸Add a mechanized pump + overhead tank for consistent household pressure: ₵5,000–₵12,000 additional
▸Water quality testing is strongly recommended before use, particularly in areas with known mineral or salinity issues
Planning Sequence
1Confirm with your MMDA and local residents whether the area has any public sewer or water infrastructure planned or existing
2If self-sufficient systems are needed, site the borehole and septic/soakaway together on your site plan — before finalising the house footprint, not after
3Include both in your project BOQ — they are frequently underestimated or forgotten in early budgets
4Get a soil/percolation assessment if your site has heavy clay or a high water table — this changes soakaway design significantly
Get a full cost estimate including site works →