49% of Treated Water Goes Waste - Survey

A survey conducted by the College of engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) into water distribution in Ghana has revealed that Ghana Water Company lost 49% of water it produced last year.

2004 and 2005 recorded a loss of 56% and 45% respectively.

This result was announced by Mr. C. S. K. Kpordze, of the College of engineering of KNUST, at a round table discussion on the development in the water sector in Ghana

from 2004 to 2006 organised by Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF) to celebrate its 2007 Utilities Week.

According to the survey, acceptable range for water loss is 15% to 25 %. He said the causes for the excessive water loses were old pipelines and too many leakages.

He said Ghana could save about US$11million every year if GWCL operates within the accepted range of water loses (15% and 25%).

Mr. Kpordze noted that 47% of the surveyed companies are satisfied with water supply because they have notices are given before it is cut. 53% were not satisfied and did not get notice before water supply is cut. "Many interruptions in supply occur due to a variety of reasons including power outages, shortages of chemicals and broken distribution lines," he emphasized.

He recommended to GWCL to put in active leakage control policies, modernize system to monitor leakages, improve communication with consumers, among others.

On his part, the Planning Director for Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Mr. E. K. Gabara, noted that there have been huge losses of water during distribution and there have been no improvements in water leakages between the periods 2004 to 2006.

He added that the company has put in place strategic plans to improve service delivery and reduce technical and commercial loses.

He stated that GWCL needs about US$900 million to improve service delivery.

"We are getting help from the World Bank and other interested investors to implement the projects," he said.

Regarding the power sector, Dr E. K. Anto of the College of engineering, KNUST, said data collected from 19 companies saw 75% of respondents saying they did not see any appreciable change in power supply while 25% appreciated a change. He stated that it was not surprising since it happened during the period of power crisis.