The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has assured residents in the Upper West Region that, in spite of the increased demand for water as a result of the dry season and the coronavirus (COVID-19), there will be constant supply of water to residents.
“The region does not have issues with water at the moment within their supply areas, neither have we received complaints from clients about water shortage nor cuts in water supply,” Mr Clement Kuukaayeng, Upper West Regional Chief Manager for GWCL, said.
Mr Kuukaayeng said this in an interview with the Ghanaian Times at Wa on Monday following fears expressed by some citizens across the country that, there could be shortage of water supply with the advent of the COVID-19.
He explained that during the dry season, most of the other sources of water become non-existence or dry up, thereby increasing the demand for pipe borne water, but said the company was able to deal with the issue substantially.
Mr Kuukaayeng indicated that since 2019, the company had undertaken close to 50 kilometres of distribution network extension to ensure that they increased domestic water supply.
“Therefore, extra demand for water due to improved hand washing practices, as one of the ways to prevent COVID-19 in the country, should not lead to water shortage. We are up to the task,” he assured.
He lamented, however, their inability to reach a wider area due to the distribution system, saying “management is unable to reach a number of areas in the region because our distribution lines have not been extended to those areas.”
Mr Kuukaayeng, however, explained that his outfit was working assiduously to ensure that they extended their pipelines to gain greater coverage in order to provide wholesome water for residents’ consumption.
“Coronavirus or not, water is always a necessity to everybody, and we provide it every day to homes, offices and houses to be able to fight against the COVID-19,” he said.
The chief manager used the opportunity to advice the general public to settle their bills on time in order to avoid disconnection and to also enable the company to extend it services to other areas.
FROM LYDIA FORDJOUR AND RAFIA ABDUL-RAZAK, WA
