PURC provides definitions of water customer categories

The Public Utility Regulations Commission (PURC) has classified water customers based on the services they provide and the use of water.

According to the regulating agency, there are ten types of water use in the country.

The categories include, residential, non-residential, commercial, Industrial, Sachet Water Producers, Commercial Bottled Water and Drinks Producers, Public Institutions/ Government Departments, Public Standpipe, Bulk Supply, and Ports and Harbours.

The categories assist clients in specifying their services and analysing their utility providers' rates.

Below is a breakdown of the water categories considered by the PURC

A. Residential

This category refers to customers using water purely for domestic purposes. It is applicable to residential houses, student hostels, care homes registered under law, and care facilities registered under the law.

B. Non-Residential

This category refers to small and medium-scale non-domestic customers that use water for drinking and sanitary purposes only, including churches, mosques, faith-based organisations, registered non-profit organisations, schools, hospitals, barbering shops, welding, carpentry and allied businesses, water sellers, shops and offices including firms and retailers.

C. Commercial

This category includes entities/businesses that use water as a significant input in their operations other than for drinking and sanitary purposes such as hotels, restaurants, chop bars, fuel stations, airports, financial institutions, washing bays, laundries, block factories, hair and beauty salons and public toilets.

D. Commercial Bottled Water and Drinks Producers

This category includes bottled water producers, drink producers, breweries and beverage producers.

E. Sachet Water Producers

This category refers exclusively to sachet water producers.

F. Industrial

This category includes factories and industries for whom water comprises the main or a significant input for production such as heating and cooling, mixing and blending, assembling and fabrication, and cleaning in their production chain. This is applicable to factories and industries that engage in manufacturing, power generation, chemical processing, food production, mining and extraction, textile manufacturing, petroleum refining companies, pharmaceutical production, abattoir, poultry farm, pulp and paper production, automotive manufacturing, chemical storage and distribution, electronics manufacturing, waste treatment and recycling facilities, construction and infrastructure development.

G. Public Institutions/ Government Departments

This category includes First Cycle, Second Cycle and Tertiary Government Institutions, Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assemblies, Ministries/Department/Agencies, Municipal Sewer Treatment Plant, State Security Services, etc.

H. Public Standpipe

This category includes individuals registered with Ghana Water Company Ltd. (GWCL) who sell water to the community or public from a public standpipe.

I. Ports and Harbours

This category includes all facilities inside ports & harbours.

J. Bulk Supply

This category includes a customer who purchases water in bulk from GWCL either at the production or transmission point for distribution and sale to the purchaser’s customers.