The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has blamed the inability of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis to provide potable water on the activities of illegal miners in the Western Region.
Water shortages have hit parts of Sekondi-Takoradi and neighbouring communities in the Western region due to low water levels at the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) intake points in the region.
According to Ghana Water Company Limited, the problem has been exacerbated by the start of the dry season.
In a statement, the GWCL explained that the “challenges arise from inadequate freshwater inflows into the Pra basin which is the source of raw water for the Daboase Water Treatment Plant, the biggest Plant in the Region. The Anankware River, which supplies raw water to the Inchaban Water Treatment Plant is equally facing its own freshwater inflow difficulties.
“Compounding the current problem at Daboase are the activities of illegal miners upstream of the River Pra, causing severe siltation at the plant’s intake. The high silt deposits have drastically reduced the volume of raw water available for abstraction. The dry season currently being experienced has also exacerbated the problem of raw water unavailability.”
According to the GWCL, as a result of these developments, “the company is unable to produce enough water for residents, worsening the city’s already precarious supply situation.”
The GWCL also stated that it has reviewed its water demand management program in order to improve equity in the water distribution process.
However, the GWCL stated that despite the review of the water management program, some customers are still unlikely to receive water due to the erratic pumping regime.
“Management of the company recognises and shares in the pain of consumers and are now doing everything they can to ameliorate their suffering, including dredging the intake of Daboase Treatment Plant which is currently ongoing.”
