By Laudia Sawer, GNA
Tema, March 23, GNA – The Tema Regional Office of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has commemorated this year’s World Water Day celebration with a call on the public to help conserve Ghana’s dwindling water bodies.
Mr. Amidu Musah, the Tema Regional Chief Manager, said Ghanaians must join forces to help curb practices such as illegal mining (galamsey) that posed threats to the water bodies, adding that they must also conserve the treated water being served to their communities and homes.
Mr. Musah stated that it was well known that in Ghana, illegal mining and sand wining activities had negative impact on the freshwater resources of the country, affecting consumers.
“The cost of chemicals for treating water has gone up because GWL has to use more expensive and potent chemicals like polymers instead of alum to treat the raw water,” he said.
He indicated that some ways to conserve treated water at home were using water from a cup to brush the teeth instead of running water taps, closing the taps after shaving, using a bucket instead of a water hose when washing vehicles, repairing leakages in the homes, including overflowing tanks, and reporting leakages and bursts promptly to GWCL.
Answering questions from participants at the durbar on water rationing in Tema, the chief manager said the region received 100 cubic metres of water daily for distribution to customers within the area, adding that the quantity was below the demand, leading to rationing.
He advised households to get water storage tanks to cater for the days they would not have water flowing through the taps, as it was impossible to give everyone water at the same time.
On the issue of unwholesome water with a foul smell passing through customers taps, he said GWCL never distributed unwholesome water, explaining, however, that the situation may arise from contamination from areas that household pipes pass through.
Mr. Musah explained, for instance, that in Tema Community two, sewer lines had been constructed along with water pipes and if a leakage occurred, the possibility of faecal-contaminated water passing through taps was high.
Participants at the durbar during an open forum raised concerns about the quality of water, rationing, and leakages, among others.
The GWCL also used the occasion to present a public address system to the Tema Newtown Water Sellers Association to help them relay information from the company to the community.
GNA