Pollution is the cause of water shortages

Continued pollution of water bodies is the cause of current shortages across the country, according the Water Resources Commission (WRC).

The commission says that although the country has sufficient water, disposal of liquid and solid waster into rivers and other sources of water remains a major challenge in providing safe, clean water.

Speaking to the Ghanaian Times on the sidelines of a health walk over the weekend, Mrs Adwoa Dako, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the commission, said a change of attitude was the only thing that could save the country's water resources.

The health walk, which precedes International Water Day, is organised every year to create awareness on the need to conserve water.

Mrs Dako complained about the deliberate pollution of water bodies which adds to the cost of treating water.

"We drop everything we like in to water bodies, forgetting its adverse effects on the same water we consume," she said.

"If we do not change our attitudes towards polluting the environment, problems of water rationing will continue recurring."

Mr Stanley Martey, the Communications Manager of Ghana Urban Water Limited (GUWL), has said the public should not illegally tap water because the management body loses substantial amounts of money because of it.

He said in past the public preserved water and wondered why that does not happen anymore.

Mr Martey said that for the water shortage to be addressed, government and other bodies involved in the water sector must invest in management and provision.

He encouraged people to use water wisely and report those who illegally tap water to the appropriate authorities.