Ghana plans water rationing in capital, other regions

Authorities in Ghana have announced possible plans to ration water in the capital Accra due to a surge in illegal deforestation that has depleted several water sources for decades.

The Ghana Water Company said consumers may encounter erratic flow of water in some parts of the country, especially in the Ashanti, Central Western and Northern regions.

“With the onset of the dry season, the entire country is expected to experience challenges with water supply because of the depletion of raw water from the various water bodies,” the statement said.

Head of Communications, Stanley Martey, said trees giving water bodies cover have been cut down.

“Trees that cover our water bodies have been cut away because of farming activities. We are also aware that the pollution in our water bodies has silted most of our water bodies and such rate of evaporation is high and we do not have huge volumes of water in our water bodies,” he told Accra-based JoyNews.

The Management has therefore called on consumers to play their role to minimise the impact of the situation as it cannot tell when the erratic supply could end.

“For now, because of the climatic changes, it is a bit difficult to determine whether it will end in a month or two. The Ghana Water Company Limited has put in resilient measures and we also expect that consumers will also play their role so together we can minimise the impact”, Martey explained.

Consumers have also been advised to strictly adhere to the following conservation measures;

1. Cease indiscriminate watering of lawns with treated water,
   
2. Moderate the use of treated water for car washing by resorting to the use of buckets, instead of hosing,
   shut all taps when not in use,
   
3. Repair all leakages in your homes, like overflowing reservoirs and dripping taps, valves, etc. (the little drops also swell your water bills.)
   
4. Report all burst pipes and leakages immediately to the nearest GWCL District offices, Customer Service Centers and Fault Offices.
   
5. Report all persons engaged in illegal connections, by-passes, and all malpractices against GWCL.
   
6. You can also send google GPS locations, pictures and videos of the burst and leakages on the GWCL WhatsApp lines 0555123393, and 0555155524, (WhatsApp information only and not calls)
   
7. The public can call GWCL on these numbers; 0207385089, 0207385090. The toll-free line is 0800 40 000 for Vodafone cells and landlines only and 0302 218240 for all other networks.
   
8. The GWCL has resorted to Water Demand Management to ensure equitable water distribution from the various treatment plants. All District Offices have been requested to announce to customers, the days on which water will flow so customers can store water.

“During dry seasons, consumers resort to the use of treated water for keeping lawns green, for commercial washing of vehicles etc. currently the dry season is on and consumers with greater dependence on rainwater have also compounded the problem by taking to treated water use. These practices ease the pressures in the pipelines thereby causing low pressures and no flow in some areas, especially the hilly areas.

Management of GWCL is very much concerned about the impact of the dry season on the raw water sources, which has been compounded by the excessive pollution of the water bodies and wishes to assure the public that, the company, together with the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, and allied Ministries, are working assiduously to improve on raw water resources in the Country.

The cooperation of the public is greatly appreciated.

Help GWCL to serve you better.”

SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH

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