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GWCL improves water rationing in Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis

Ongoing water rationing by Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of the Western Region, has been improved, the Regional Directorate, has said.

Previous water rations have been revised to ensure residents/consumers store enough water to forestall future shortages, it stated.

Communications Manager, GWCL, Western and Central Regions, Nana Yaw Barnie, told the Ghanaian Times yesterday that, the new arrangements had generally, ensured a fair distribution of water across localities in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.

He explained that, when the new Chief Manager assumed duty, recently,  he noted that, three days of water supply at one locality at a time, was inadequate and directed that it should be extended to five days.

This, Nana Barnie said, that had relieved residents of the daily  drudgery   of getting regular  supply  of water, stressing “ the  rational system is now providing  more  access to our  customers.”

The rotational system revolves around areas including Takoradi South, Takoradi North and Naji and  West Anaji residential areas.

“In the past, we were rationing water for three days, then, we change over to another community. Even though we say we are serving them, it’s not enough, many people will not get, so we decided to change it over to five days of water supply,” he added.

Nana Barnie continued “Waterflowswith pressure and as you do continuous pumping, then the pressure also increases. If you do  it for  three days, not many people will get that is why they decided to change it to  five days, so when you are serving say Takoradi South,  all the pipes  in Takoradi North are locked  so that water is  concentrated in that targeted  area –for us to get the pressure built- up.”

He said that, water supply had now improved and running continuously in some communities namely East Tanokrom, TTU  areas, Kejebril, Funko, Apowa in Ahanta West and Supomu-Dunkwa to the east on the Takoradi-Cape Coast highway.

“Indeed, the pressure had gone up and I have received reports from residents even at the SSNIT Flats at Anaji, where hitherto,they had difficulties with pressure especially at the top floors. Those hilly areas hitherto not getting water are now fetching water continuously for days.So, a lot more people will now share, this is what is happening now.”

Explaining further, Nana Barnie said, demand of water  in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis had outstripped and supply  and that the current output of Daboase Treatment plant of six million gallons of water was inadequate for the growing needs  of the population.

The demand for water in Sekondi-Takoradi and beyond, he told the Ghanaian Times, was now about  20 million  gallons per day, and that was what should be shared, using that rationing system.

The Communication manager argued that, payment of prompt water bills served as the resources for GWCL to continue to serve customers, saying “the company must run and it must run with funds.”

Nana Barnie,  therefore,  appealed  to customers to  pay their bills promptly to enable  GWCL   buy  chemicals,  maintain equipment,  pay of salaries of  staff “and everything that must be done in the company.”

He stressed “Government does not give Ghana Water Company money for our day to day operations. We are no longer a subventedorganisation.Nobody gives us money to pay our salaries, buy chemicals or do anything. It is the water bills which is our internally generated fund(IGF) that we use in finance in our day to day operation.”

“If you pay your bills, you give us the resources to continue to serve you. If there’s no fund, we cannot buy the chemicals, pay salaries and our salaries are not paid for three months, it will demoralise us, we will not be able to give off our best.”

FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, TAKORADI

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