Story by Isaac Asare
Farming and
illegal small scale mining activities continue to pose dire consequences on the
country’s water bodies as these raw water sources are constantly polluted with
impunity.
The Ghana Water Company, GWSC, in a bid to ensure clean and reliably
water supply to users has to spend huge amounts in treating these polluted
water sources.
Aside the cost implication, the polluted water sources has
become a menace to existing pumps and machines because they are not purposely
designed to suit such conditions.
Most often, these machines breaks down
creating intermittent water supply to users. As Ghana joins the rest of the
international community to observe the World Water Day, much attention has been
drawn on the urgency to conserving freshwater resources.
In the Upper East Region, the major source of
drinking water is the Vea Dam which is managed by the Irrigation Development
Authority.
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| Mr Kenneth Ennin, Chief Manager GWSC UE |
According to the Regional Chief Manager of the GWSC, Kenneth Ennin,
the dam among other freshwater bodies under his jurisdiction are free from
contamination.
However, the use of chemicals in treating water is quite minimal
making it fresh and healthy for consumption.
Mr Ennin disclosed that though
communities under the Bolgatanga and its catchment are currently undergoing
some water rationing on the interim, the volume of raw water meant for supply
will be able to sustain consumers up to the next raining season.
The rationing,
he indicated has become necessary because the demand for water far outstrip
supply and therefore requires an upgrade of the water capacity to match up the
demand.
Moreover, intense temperature leading to high evaporation of the raw
water source is a contributory factor.
He said currently, the company is able
to supply 4000 cubic meters of water as against the expected daily demand of
7000 cubic meters.
The shortfall, Mr Ennin, noted, has come about as a result
of population increase, particularly Bolgatanga, where there has been a
significant increase in the capacity of water delivery.
He said plans are
advanced to provide a number of boreholes in the Bolgatanga and Zuarungu
townships to make up for the deficiency.
Additionally, the company also has a
long term plan in place to site a treatment plant by the Tono Irrigation dam
site to assist in the treatment of additional volume of water to augment what
is being supplied.
He said adequate funding is however required to undertake
the project.
Speaking on the benchmark for quality and accessibility, Mr Ennin
said once the GWSC concentrates on urban areas and deals with conventional
water supply, it will not relent in its effort to produce water that is of high
quality to meet the standards set out by the WHO.
He added that the region’s raw water source is
adequate and lots of afforestation is being done in the catchment area to
preserve its freshness.
Moreover, the company is reinforcing the dam making
sure that it is capable to storing the right volume of water for treatment and
supply.
He urged consumers to pay their bills promptly and further cautioned them
against illegal connection to enable the company generate the needy revenue to
serve the larger population.
GBC
END
IA/
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