The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has announced a 30% reduction in water production in the Central region, leading to a severe water shortage.
The Regional Chief Manager, Seth Eric Atiapah, attributed this reduction to the extensive pollution of water resulting from illegal mining activities.
A visit by JoyNews to the Sekyere-Hemang plant exposed the detrimental effects of galamsey activities, including the narrowing of the intake canal, water turbidity, and clogging of the plant’s sump.
These issues have significantly impeded the flow of water to the plant.
Addressing the acute water shortage during a dredging exercise at the plant intake, Atiapah highlighted the escalating cost of production due to increased water contamination.
The turbidity level rose from the designed 500MNU to an alarming 7500, making the water challenging to treat.
The necessity of employing more potent and expensive chemicals, such as polymer or poly-electrolyte, has added to the financial burden.
To manage the situation, GWCL has reduced water production by 30%, allowing more time to treat the compromised water quality. Atiapah emphasized the critical need for curtailing galamsey activities to address the root cause of the problem.
Stanley Martey, the Company’s Head of Communications, reiterated the urgency of combating illegal mining, as the treatment plants rely on rivers that have been polluted by galamsey activities.
The conventional treatment plant is designed for water from river sources, and the current situation necessitates a collective effort to curb illegal mining and preserve water sources.