GWCL to build a new dam at Abesim

Feasibility studies have been completed by the Ghana Water Company Limited to build a dam on the Tano River near Abesim in the Sunyani Municipality to store water and to also expand the treatment of water capacity to meet the demand shortfall in the municipality.

The project would also make provision for future water demand requirements for Sunyani and its environs which are facing water scarcity.

Currently, the GWCL treatment plan can produce 7,000 cubic meters a day for residents in Sunyani and its environs but the current demand of the municipality is around 15,000 cubic meters per day.

There is, therefore a demand shortfall of 8,000 cubic meters per day thereby causing the company to ration water to its consumers in the Sunyani municipality.

According to the Brong Ahafo Regional Chief Manager of the GWCL, Y. Addae Mensah, excessive environmental degradation within the Tano River catchment area and the resultant reduction in rainfall volumes over the years, had affected the sustainability of the Tano River in supporting future water supply expansion.

He said it was to address those problems that the construction of the dam had become necessary.

Speaking at this year's celebration of World Water Day at Berekum, which was on the theme: "Coping with Water Scarcity", Mr Addae Mensah also stated that the Techiman Water Supply System was also based on a conjunction use of surface and ground water.
He said his outfit had installed capacity of 4,500m3 1 day as against an estimated demand of 8,500m3/day.

Mr Addae Mensah said as a result of deterioration of plant output over the years the current production was only about 36 percent of demand and that the water was rationed to consumers in the Techiman Municipality also.

He again stated the water supply system operated by the GWCL in Berekum was based on boreholes and that the company was currently operating eight boreholes located in the Kora River Valley.

The Chief Director said those boreholes produced a total of about 2,050 cubic meters of water a day, which was the maximum output that the Kora Valley aquifer could support

Source: Daily Graphic