Four topographical features are distinct in the Region. These are the:

• Kwahu Scarp which is about 2,520 feet above sea level;
• Atiwa- Atweredu Range which reaches an elevation of 2,420 feet
• Akwapim highlands, which form the Southern extension of the Togo-Atakora mountains in the Volta Region; and
• Isolated hills dotted across relatively low-lying plains in the south.

The Kwahu Scarp, Atiwa and Atweredu Ranges form the major water shed of the Eastern Region as some of the major rivers such as the Pra, Birim and Densu take their sources from them. The Afram and Pawnpawn Rivers also form part of the surface water bodies of the Region. The Volta River, which runs along the Eastern border, has been harnessed at Akosombo and Akuse to become the main source of the country’s hydro-electric power. The Volta Lake created as a result of the two dams, has facilitated inland water transportation. The rivers are also the main sources of drinking water and inland fishing.

Climatic conditions experienced in the Region with respect to rainfall, temperature, humidity and wind are quite similar to those in most parts of the country.

The Region generally has two seasons of rainfall in a year. The major season occurs in the months of March/April to June and is separated from the minor season by a spell of dry weather in July/August. The minor rainy season occurs between September and October. The rainy seasons are followed by a long period of dry season from November to February.

The annual rainfall ranges between 120cm and 170 cm in the forest zone and 50 cm and 110 cm in the savanna zone. The annual rainy days are around 85 in the savanna zone and 130 in the forest areas. Temperatures are generally high in the Region with average minimum and maximum figures at 22ºC and 32ºC respectively. The Region also experiences long hours of sunshine with a mean of 6.5 hours per day. Relative humidity in the Region is fairly high averaging between 65% and 95% per month.

The availability of the surface sources and the fairly high rain fall provide great potential for harnessing of ground water. In areas where the ground water potential is unfavorable either due to low yield or poor water quality it may be possible to resort to rain water harvesting as an alternate option.

The Region falls within three ecological zones, namely; Semi deciduous rain forest in Southern, Western and Central parts of the Region. Forest-savanna transitional zone north of Kwahu Scarp and the Coastal savanna thickets to the east behind the Akwapim ranges.

Geologically, the Region is underlain with pre-Cambrian rocks locally known as the Birimian, the Akwapim-Togo and Tarkwain formations.  The Hydro-geological potential of the Region to a large extent depends on the geology of the area and the degree of metamorphism to which the underlying rocks have been subjected to.

There are seven main geological formations in the Region namely:

1. The Voltaian Series comprising the Upper Voltaian, the Obosum beds and Oti beds.

The voltaian occupies approximately half the total area of the Region and extends in a north–easterly manner.

Within the Oti and Obosom beds, the hydro –geological potential is fair to good depending on the location and the depth of drilling. The predominant aquifers are fractures and high yields have been obtained from boreholes in certain locations within this belt. The Donkorkrom and Maame Krobo water systems are located within this belt.

Generally, the hydro-geological potential of the Upper Voltaian is low to poor and with low yields however, good yielding boreholes can be obtained in certain specific areas. The Asesewa water system is located in this belt.

2. The Buem series; these are thin strip-like formations located to the north east of the Region and form the boundary with the Volta Region. The Hydro-geological potential in this formation is fair to good. The aquifers are mainly weathered meta -volcanic rocks.

3. The Togo Series located on the south eastern boundary with the Greater Accra Region. The groundwater potential in the Togo is fair and with average yields. The aquifers are generally weak fractures.

4. The Tarkwaian Series a relatively small patch of the formation located on the south western boundary of the Region with the Ashanti Region. Prospects for groundwater are fair to good and the aquifers are from fractures and the weathered formations.

5. The Birrimian comprising the Lower Birrimian and Upper Birrimian located in the western lower half of the Region. Within this belt the ground water potential is generally high with moderate to high yields. The aquifers are mainly from fractures.

6. The Dahomeyan – This geological formation occurs in an elongate strip located on the south eastern border with the Greater Accra Region. The hydro-geological potential in this formation is low and boreholes yields are generally low. Aquifers are mainly from the weathered zone.

7. Granites comprising the Cape Coast granites and the Dixcove Granites can also be found in the Region. This belt is located in the lower eastern part of the Region. The ground water potential is fair to good. High yields are obtained in certain locations in this belt. The aquifers are from both fractures and the weathered zone.

These geological features have given rise to the presence of a number of minerals which include gold, diamond, bauxite, limestone, kaolin and clay among others. The rock formation has high underground water potential with boreholes and hand dug wells having high yields in most parts of the Region. However, there is a high concentration of iron and manganese in the ground water sources especially in the Yilo Krobo, Manya Krobo, Asuogyaman, Akuapem North, Abuakwa South, Kwaebibirem and Fanteakwa districts that impact the success rate, potability as well as the coverage of water provision. Currently, there are occurrences of copper and cyanide in some water samples in the Region.

The projected population of the Eastern Region as at December 2020 is 3,241,408. Of this 718,125 reside in the urban centres and the rural population is 2,523,283 (According to CWSA DiMES Database)

The population of the Eastern Region was 2,633,154 (2010 Census data). Of this 1,143,918 resided in the urban centres and the rural population was 1,489,236 with a growth rate of 2.1%, according to the 2010 census data.

The classification of communities by population sizes in the Region is as follows;

1.Population    75-2000             2,551  communities

2.                   2001-5000           194  communities

3.                    Above 5000         50   communities

The Region has a rich ethnic and cultural diversity. It is home to the Akuapems, Kwahus, Akyems, Krobos and Anums. In addition, there are enclaves of Northerners, Fantes, Ewes and other tribes engaged in farming, fishing and other economic activities scattered all over the Region.

Agriculture constitutes the major economic activity of the Region, providing 67% of employment. About 72 % of the Region’s population, which resides in rural areas, depends directly or indirectly on agriculture and related activities for their livelihood. Both cash and food crops are cultivated. The cash crops include cocoa, citrus, coffee, cola, pineapple, oil palm, rubber, cashew, citronella, sugar cane and banana. Livestock production and fishing also constitute an important part of agriculture in the Region. The Region can also boast of industrial activities such as mining, stone quarrying, palm oil processing, distilling, textiles, etc.

The Eastern Region is made up of 33 Administrative Municipals/ Districts with Koforidua as the Administrative Capital.  The Regional Minister is the head of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and is assisted by a Deputy Regional Minister and the Regional Coordinating Director. There are 12 Municipal Assemblies and 21 District Assemblies and each is headed by a Municipal / District Chief Executive.

ERCWSA started as Eastern Region Community Water and Sanitation Division (ERCWSD) under the National Community Water & Sanitation Programme, which was launched in 1994.

Prior to the Division inception in 1994, there existed about 1,000 boreholes drilled by various organizations. Notably among them is the KfW sponsored programme in the 1980s (3000-Wells), UNDP and UNICEF/DANISH projects. Most of these boreholes were fitted with India Mark II hand pumps which were converted to Community Management and the Mark II hand pumps have been changed to either Nira or Ghana Modified India Mark II hand pumps. The region also has some GWCL transferred small towns water systems.

The Region’s programmes and activities were funded mainly by the Danish Government through DANIDA and German Government through GTZ/KfW whiles GOG provides counterpart funding.

Other Organizations/Agencies (Development Partners) such as JICA, Chinese Government, Plan International Ghana, Ghana Red Cross Society, APDO, Social Investment Fund (SIF), Ernst Peyer Foundation and Rotary International/USAID have partnered the Government of Ghana to contribute significantly to the provision of water facilities to the rural communities and small towns in all the 33 MDAs in the Region.