General News of Tuesday, 18 February 2014

Source: radioxyzonline

Accra hit by acute water shortage

Some parts of the capital city have been hit by acute water shortage.

Some of the places hardest hit include Kokomlemle, Korle Bu, Dansoman, Dzorwulu, Abelemkpe, Lapaz, Kwashieman, Weija, and their environs.

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) is already rationing water according to a schedule.

The already restricted supply of water has become worse in the past couple of weeks as residents in those areas complain of serious disruption in supply.

It is not clear why water supply has been disrupted in parts of Accra, and residents fear the intended temporary closure of the Kpong water treatment plant From Monday February 24 to Thursday February 27 could worsen the situation.

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) will shut down the Plant to allow contractors executing the Kpong Intake and Accra Tema Metropolitan Area Rural Rehabilitation and Expansion (ATMA) projects, undertake critical pipeline interconnections under the project due for completion in the next three months.

When completed, the project will produce an additional nine million gallons of water per day.

A statement released by the company on Monday said: “Upon completion, the projects will improve efficiency with the replacement of all the existing pumps and the installation of a 3.3 million gallon a day treatment plant to increase water supply to Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area”.

Areas to be affected during the period include Tema, Ashaiman, Lashibi, Michel Camp, Afienya, Prampram, Ningo, Somanya, Dodowa, Akuapim, Ridge Areas, Adenta, Madina, Ashalley-Botwe, Adjiringano, East Legon, Legon, Ashongman, Kwabenya, Taifa, Dome, Achimota and surrounding areas.

Other areas to be affected include Abelemkpe, Dzorwulu, Roman Ridge, Airport Residential Area, 37, Kanda, Nima, Maamobi, Pig Farm, Kotobaabi, Kokomlemle, Cantonments, Ridge, Osu, La, Labone, Burma Camp, Teshie, Nungua, Baatsona, Spintex Road and surrounding areas.

The Company said in the statement that it intends to put in place stop gap measures to ensure supply from Weija to the Accra Terminal Reservoir and Booster Station for supply to some parts of eastern Accra to minimise the impact of the shutdown.