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Civil works on the 13 Small Town Water Supply Systems (STWSS) have been completed in 10 towns in the Upper East Region to allow the implementation stage to start. Drilling works on the project which is to expand access and ensure sustainable water supply and sanitation services in the region have been completed in Pungu, Biu, Kologo all in the Kasena-Nankana Municipality, Katiu in Nankana West, Kadema in the Builsa District, Zorkor in the Bongo District and Widana in the Bawku Municipality. Additional drilling works would be carried out in Bongo-soe, Bolgatanga, Sapeliga in the Bawku West District and Basyonde in the Garu-Tempane District. Other areas benefitting from the project include Duusi and Pwalugu in the Talensi and Nabdam districts as well as Kalbeo in the Bolgatanga Municipality. Ms Fati Mumuni, Chief Extension Services Specialist at the Community Water and Sanitation Agency in the region, who made this known in an interview with Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, said the five- and � half- year project is on course. It is expected to provide 250 hand fitted boreholes and 13 STWSS for the region, and would fully be completed in 2016. In response to whether all district assemblies had met the criteria to benefit from the project, Ms Mumuni expressed worry that boreholes drilled and awaiting mechanisation under the STWSS in the Basyonde community in the Garu Tempane District would delay because the area is not connected to the national electricity grid. She however indicated that the project is a holistic package that would provide latrines to clinics and schools to promote sanitation. Ms Mumuni said all latrines to be constructed for each of the districts would be completed by December 31. She mentioned some challenges as delays by district assemblies to contribute their five per cent capital contribution to the project and delays in the payment of contractors.