Water Commission, Research Institute tasked to probe water contamination

The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources has tasked the Water Resources Commission and the Water Research Institute to probe scientifically the extent to which the activities of illegal miners have contaminated the country’s waters.

The agencies have also been tasked to recommend the most effective approach to regaining water quality.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, the sector Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, disclosed that to ascertain the actual contamination and to find immediate solutions, the Water Research Institute would provide a full report on the level of damage, which will inform the most appropriate solution to deal with the matter.

The Ghana Water Company has warned that if the activities of illegal miners are not brought to an immediate stop, the country will have to import drinking water in the next 10 years.

To salvage the situation, the government has deployed a security team to stop all forms of mining on rivers in the country.

As part of their mission, the team has been tasked to burn all excavators found parked near river beds either in operation or not.

Water supply project

Madam Abena Dapaah further told journalists in the Northern Region that the Tamale and Yendi water supply projects are being undertaken.

She explained that the Tamale water supply involves the construction of new water treatment system from the White Volta.

Tamale currently has a 30,000 cubic meters per day water supply system, we are moving it to 135,000 cubic meters per day to meet the water demand for the year 2040.

She said the estimated cost for the Tamale water supply system is $223 million adding that it is expected to benefit 792,000, noting that currently the development phase is completed.

The Yendi water project involves the construction of a new water treatment plant, and it will be the first one in Yendi.