Residents of Sekondi-Takoradi are experiencing acute water shortage due to intense illegal mining activities which have resurfaced in the Western Region.
Even though the Pra River experiences a low level around this time every year, the ‘galamsey’ menace has aggravated the situation.
Residents have resorted to bathing in big bowls to save the bath water for flushing water closets and using sachet water for cooking and bathing.
Daboase, Bosomdo
At the moment, the intake points at Inchaban, Daboase and Bosomdo are not able to accumulate enough water for treatment by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).
GWCL says the average water, colour and turbidity of the Pra River at Daboase and Bosomdo are not the best.
The company said a chunk of what the company was able to extract was not treatable due to the high turbidity level and other contaminants.
The water level had dropped drastically while the turbidity level had moved to 910.12 when the Daily Graphic visited the plant.
Pra River
The company explained that water from the Pra River run through Daboase and Bosomdo to feed the treatment plants.
The treated water from the plants and Inchaban serve the metropolis.
The areas in the metropolis most affected by the water shortage include the New Site, Sekondi and Takoradi townships and the Takoradi Technical University community in the newly created Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality.
Some residents who spoke to the Daily Graphic said they had to buy water from tanker services at a high cost of ¢200 twice a week, lamenting that it was having a serious impact on their finances.
Store water
Even though GWCL has resorted to the rationing of water, road construction work by Asabia Construction in some parts of the metropolis has left many without water for months.
The Head of Public Relations of the GWCL in the region, Nana Yaw Barima Barnie, said the only option now was rationing, which had started. He, therefore, urged members of the public to store water when their taps were opened.
“The situation we find ourselves in now requires that when the water flows in your area, you don’t leave the taps on, you don’t use the water hose to wash your cars but store enough,” he said.
He said even though it was a perennial problem, illegal mining activities, which were still ongoing, were contributing largely to the problem.
Booming water business
At the moment, there is a serious demand for sachet water in the metropolis and the suppliers using tricycles and KIA trucks are doing good business.
Some of the suppliers say they are not even meeting demand as residents are not buying the normal two or three bags but 10 to 15 bags at a time.
One of the suppliers, Paa Kwesi Peterson, said, “We used to carry water around the metropolis for hours, but as we speak now, when you enter a house especially on weekends, they empty your car or tricycle.”
He said even though the demand for water was high, they had not increased the prices.
