Water Shortage Fears in Central Region as Water Company Shuts Down Kwanyako Plant Over Galamsey
- There is a water shortage expected in the Central Region due to issues with the Kwanyako Headworks plant
- The Kwanyako Headworks plant is being shut down due to some pressures brought on by illegal mining
- The headworks produces and supplies over 25,000 cubic meters of water per day for Ghana Water Limited
There is a water shortage expected in the Central Region because Ghana Water Limited has shut down its Kwanyako Headworks plant.
The intake pumps at both treatment plants at the headworks have broken down due to heavy silt accumulation.
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Citi News reported that officials linked the challenge to heavy silting of the Ayensu River as a result of illegal mining activities upstream, in the Eastern Region.
The plant, commissioned in 1964, has a production capacity of 14,000, while the new plant, commissioned in 2007, has a 21,000 cubic meter capacity.
The headworks produced and supplied over 25,000 cubic meters of water per day.
Divers who were hired to assess the situation of the pumps underwater have recommended that the pumps be desilted and that the river be dredged.
Meanwhile, officials at the Kwanyako Headworks say the dredging would still yield no useful impact should the illegal mining activities continue.
Residents of affected communities are said to be relying on unsafe water sources.
Earlier plant shutdowns from Galamsey
The Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region dealt with a water shortage in March because of the shutdown of the Bonsa Headworks.
The Bonsa Headworks supplies the Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipality in the Western Region with 75% of its potable water needs.
At the time, Ghana Water said the decision stemmed from the severe impact of illegal mining activities on the Bonsa River.
It expressed concern about illegal miners' destruction of water bodies and urged stakeholders, including local authorities and law enforcement agencies, to act decisively to end the menace and restore the river.
Warning over Cape Coast water supply
In 2024, Ghana Water Central Region said it faced challenges in supplying potable water to Cape Coast, Elmina, and surrounding communities because of illegal mining pollution.
This affected the raw water received at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant.
The company has said the River Pra, particularly at the catchment area for abstraction, was 60% silted.
It had been recording an average turbidity of over 14,000 NTU instead of 2,000 NTU expected for adequate treatment.
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The situation also affected the plant's output. The Company, at the time, said it could only produce only about 7,500m³/day, a quarter of its installed capacity.
Ghana Water wants water bodies to be security zones
YEN.com.gh reported that Ghana Water in the past urged the government to declare water bodies as security zones.
Dr Clifford Braimah, the company's Managing Director in 2024, said the water bodies would be better protected if the Water Resources Commission were under the Defence Ministry.
He explained that destroying the country’s water bodies is a national security issue and must be treated urgently.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
