A PUBLIC forum held at Ho to assess the water situation in the Volta Region has revealed that the potential of water systems in the region had been under-utilised over the years, leading to insufficient supply of potable water to the people.
The participants claimed that the Agordomi system near Sogakope in the North Tongu District and the Kpeve water head works were major systems of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) but were under-utilised.
Also the Damanko-Kpassa system being constructed on the Oti River in the Nkwanta North District, aimed at alleviating the incidence of guinea worm infection, was of limited scope while the Kpando water system was expected to take off very soon.
These came to light when the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban S.K. Bagbin, addressed major stakeholders at a regional forum in Ho.
The minister, however, said it was the intention of the government to end the perennial water crisis of communities and cities by significantly expanding and upgrading water infrastructure by the end of 2012.
He said the Volta Region was well-endowed with both surface and ground water resources, with available surface water at about 1.97 billion cubic metres per annum that could meet water demand of the region up to 2025.
He disclosed that the Dayi River in the Hohoe Municipality had good unpolluted water valued at 88.4 per cent of water quality classification while the Lower Volta and the Oti River at Damanko had fairly good quality of 65.6 and 67.2 per cent, respectively.
Mr Bagbin said the region had 18 urban water systems rated as the highest in the country, adding that with the exception of Ho the other 17 systems had been incorporated in a national strategic investment programme to meet the water demands of the population up to and beyond 2025.
He warned the staff of GWCL against collusion with people within the organisation and outside to engage in the execution of shoddy projects and in illegal connections to steal water since such acts would not be countenanced.
On rural water supply, Mr Bagbin said a total of 1,095,464 out of a population of 1,749,026 had access to potable water, an equivalent of 62.63 per cent above the national average of 58.97 per cent.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the Volta regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said the provision of water as a basic human need was seriously challenged in the region, adding that some communities did not have access to good drinking water because of low water tables and low yielding boreholes.
He said even in communities with good yielding boreholes or water systems, high electricity tariffs hindered the regular supply of potable water.
Mr Amenowode added that poor maintenance culture and the inability of communities to raise funds to repair broken down boreholes posed a great threat to water delivery to the people, compelling consumers to resort to the use of unwholesome water at the risk of their health.
Mr Amenowode said inadequate distribution pipelines, inadequate ground water, poor quality and old equipment contributed to unreliable water supply in the region.
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