Source: https://citinewsroom.com/ | 31 March 2020

The Ghana Water Company limited in the Upper East Region says, it is compelled to ration water within the Bolgatanga municipality and its surroundings until the rainy season sets in.

According to the company, the increased demand for water exceeds the production capacity of their treatment plant hence the decision.

Speaking to Citi News, General Manager of the company, Mr. Kwasi Abebrese said, the Vea treatment plant that produces and supplies about 4,000 cubic meters of water daily is unable to meet the demand of about 10,000 cubic meters of water by residents.

The water rationing which has already commenced is expected to last throughout the dry season and beyond until the Tono irrigation dam expansion project is completed to augment the situation.

“We do the water rationing from 6 am in the morning to 6 pm in the evening daily. So, if this area is getting water from 6 am in the morning, by 6 pm we will change the vaults so that, their sister community will also get water and so on. No community will get water on a daily basis throughout the week. This water rationing will have to last throughout the dry season and in subsequent times until such a time that the Tono project comes into production. During the rainy season, people have their own means of accessing water and do not depend too much on Ghana water company which puts less strain on us. So, in the dry season, we have to manage.”

He added that “we supply water for Navrongo, Bawku, Bolgatanga and their surroundings. I think for Navrongo and Bawku we do not have too many challenges. The greater challenge is Bolgatanga and its surroundings and the supply currently come from our treatment plant in Vea. We do about 4,000 cubic meters a day of water supply and demand is about 10,000 cubic meters a day. So you see that there is a great shortfall until the Tono project is completed which is going to bring us over 20,000 cubic meters a day to provide people with more water than they will need”.