Pollution affects water quality, Mensah

Sunyani (Brong Ahafo Region) 28 Jan. '99

Consistent degradation of the environment through human activities have seriously affected the volume and quality of surface and underground water sources of the Brong Ahafo region. The regional director of the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation, Mr R.T.Mensah, has therefore called for sustained measures to curb incidents which promote desertification and water pollution such as bushfires, farming and washing of vehicles at river banks. During during a familiarisation visit to GWSC offices in Sunyani on Tuesday by the Regional Minister, Mr Donald Adabre, Mr Mensah said the underground water ''is receding rapidly, causing acute water shortage in many parts of the region''. The volume of water in the Tano river on which many communities in the region depend has also reduced drastically. For instance, underground water system at Wenchi from which 6,000 cubic metres of water an hour could be pumped to serve the community, has completely dried up. Mr Mensah said currently, only 12 out of 28 water systems in the region are operational as a result this, and the break-down of equipment. Mr Mensah mentioned Prang, Yeji and Kwame Danso among other communities whose water services ''have been interrupted for some time now due to reduction in the water levels of the Volta river. Due to high pollution of River Tano, the cost of treating raw water for consumption has shot up astronomically. Mr Mensah said water levels of the river continue to reduce owing to a fall in the recharge from rainfall and described the situation as ''a major problem for the corporation and the people of the region''. A number of government departments, individuals and educational institutions, owe the corporation several millions of cedis, adding ''this has compounded our financial problems.'' Mr Adabre commended GWSCs staff for their efficiency and dedication to duty under ''the trying circumstances'' and promised to help ensure the early payment of debts owed the corporation by government organisations.