Ghanaians have been confronted with acute water shortage problems for a long time.  Many people in several parts of the country still rely on open streams, rivers, lakes, pools, dug-outs and impoundment reservoirs for their domestic water needs.

These streams often serve as drinking places for animals as well.  The health hazards posed by this situation are endless and far-reaching.

 Persistent water shortages are part of life even in urban areas.  During acute periods, workers scramble for water for long hours before going to work, resulting in the loss of significant and productive man-hours.  Schoolchildren also waste precious study hours looking for water. 
 

Ministries, government departments, health and educational institutions often face serious sanitation problems because of lack of water.  Residents of newly developed estates and areas also cry for water.
 
Yet Ghana enjoys substantial rainfall most of the year.  With limited treated water resources on one hand and the increasing demand for water on the other, there is the need to look again at rainwater harvesting and also make more efficient use of water. 

For many years, mankind has relied on rainwater harvesting for water to serve household and agricultural needs.  Rainwater was collected from roofs and stored in tanks and other receptacles.
 
With the development of water treatment and distribution systems and well-drilling equipment, rainwater harvesting has been relegated to the background, even though the practice offers a source of reliable water. 
 
A renewed interest in this time-honoured method of water collection has occurred in various parts of the world and a number of technologies are available.

Rainwater, which is valued for its purity and softness, has a nearly neutral pH and is free from chemical disinfectants, salts, minerals and other natural and man-made contaminants.
 
It has a relatively simple process of treatment, hence with the escalating environmental and economic costs of providing water by centralised water systems or by drilling of wells, government and all stakeholders should objectively look at rainwater harvesting.
 
It is only then that we can derive from it a sustainable solution to the water shortage problems in Ghana. 

It is sad to note that the rains have started, bringing in its wake untold destruction caused by massive flooding although this can be minimised, to a large extent, by adopting rainwater harvesting strategies.
 
It is in the light of the above that the GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION (GSA) is re-echoing its advocacy for rainwater harvesting and the time is now.  
 

The GSA held its 10th Biennial Workshop in July 2006 on the theme “Rainwater Harvesting: A Sustainable Solution to Water Shortage Problems in Ghana” and came out with the following recommendations:

• A building code, which makes it mandatory for all designs of buildings to incorporate rainwater harvesting systems, is needed.

• Government must enforce the regulations on rainwater harvesting.

• Government must take the lead in promoting this technology through the construction of pilot schemes in different climatic zones of the country.

• Government must train more people in this technology for its mass promotion.

• Government must subsidise or grant tax exemptions to manufacturers of rainwater harvesting devices like roof gutters, corrugated roofing sheets, etc.

• Government must promote cheaper sources of materials like ferro-cement, pozzolana cement, etc., for the construction of underground reservoirs.

• Government must seriously fund research in this technology, particularly into the quality of rainwater in different parts of the country, its efficient capture, storage and utilisation.

• Rainwater harvesting technology and its usefulness should be taught in schools.

The proceedings of the workshop have been compiled into a book which is being sold at the GSA Secretariat, located in Room 5, Department of Botany, University of Ghana, Legon.
 
This important book would be useful to households, ministries, government departments, educational and health institutions, factories, business concerns, entrepreneurs and everyone. The GSA is ready to assist in any effort to harvest rainwater.
— This article is a contribution by the  Ghana Science Association.
Source: Daily Graphic - Daily Graphic