The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has expressed deep frustration at the impact of galamsey on its operations, stressing that water treatment machines, designed to pump clear water, are now being forced to pump sand-laden water from heavily polluted sources.
Officials lamented that their filters, which were originally designed to function once a week, now require cleaning and maintenance twice every week due to excessive silt from illegal mining activities.
“Our equipment is not meant to pump sandy water. They are meant to pump clear water. But now we are pumping sand,” Manager of Corporate Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Michael Tawiah Klutse spoke to ABC News GH.
This situation has led to soaring operational costs, faster wear and tear of machines, and increased electricity consumption.
What should have been manageable routine maintenance has now become a costly emergency exercise. The company has admitted that the strain is unsustainable and has already forced the closure of some plants.
The water crisis is not just about cost, but also about public health and safety. As polluted rivers are turned into toxic sludge by galamsey, more pressure is put on GWCL to deliver potable water.
The company fears that if this trend continues unchecked, millions of Ghanaians could face dire water shortages, especially in mining areas where the water table has been most compromised.
By Ruth Sekyi – [email protected]
