Power outages, pollution part of our main challenges - GWCL

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has identified power outages, pollution of water bodies by illegal gold miners and illegal connections as some of the challenges confronting the company.

Regional Chief Manager Emmanuel Ashia said this at the celebration of this year’s World Water Day at Baifikrom near Mankessim on Friday.

The staff of Brimsu, Sekyere-Heman, Kwanyaku, Winneba, Dunkwa-on-Offin and Baifikrom water managers participated in the celebration which was attended by some students and journalists.

The theme for the celebration was: “International Year of Water Cooperation”, which brought to fore the need for Ghanaians to cooperate with GWCL to eliminate malpractices from the water delivery system.

Mr Ashia explained that when there was power outage, production ceases therefore they needed regular electricity supply for the treatment of water for uninterrupted supply to the people.

On pollution of water bodies, he said it made production costs higher as a lot of chemicals had to be applied before water got to the acceptable standard.

He appealed to Ghanaians to cooperate with security forces to flush out galamsey operators whose activities had been the greatest source of worry to the company.

The Regional Chief Manager said illegal connection activities had been draining revenue of the GWCL and called on the citizens to help the company to be on the alert to report those people to the authorities.

Mr Ashia urged people who needed water in their houses or workplaces to apply to the company with a copy of a building plan document attached, after which some staff would be delegated to inspect the premises and costs of the project before connection is made.

He cautioned that anyone who connected water without approval breached the law of the company and would be dealt with accordingly.

Mr Cecil Otoo, Baifikrom Station Manager, said GWCL produces one of the best water in the world as they adhere to World Health Organisation’s standards.

He appealed to contractors working on roads to consult the company to re-adjust its lines in order not to destroy them when they are constructing roads.