Bolgatanga July 26, GNA- The main water pipe lines and underground tributaries that supply water to Bolgatanga Municipality is in a state of deterioration.

Mr. Albert W. Nyeteng, Distribution Officer of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) who made this known in Bolgatanga, noted that the pipes had not been changed for the past 30 years and are therefore developing holes, which attract dirt into the treated water. Mr. Nyeteng was speaking at a meeting with Mr. Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister who visited the premises of the GWCL. Mr. Eric Kampim, Acting Regional Customer Care Manager said a number of residents in the municipality had defaulted in the payment of their water bills leading to a debt of GH¢832,248.00 over a long period.

He said out of the amount the Ministries, Government Departments and workers owe GH¢534,029.00. Mr. Kampim said some government workers deliberately pile up their bills when they are going on transfer, making it difficult for the company to trace them for the money. Mr. Emmanuel Amalba, Vea Dam Station Manager, said the dam had been silted making it impossible to contain enough water to supply the 1.6 gallons needed by residents of Bolgatanga. Currently the dam supplies between 600,000 to 800,000 gallons per day.

However, five bore holes in the Zaurungu area, near Bolgatanga would soon be mechanised to serve more people, he said. Mr. Woyongo commended the staff of GWCL for their hard work and said despite the difficulties they faced; Bolgatanga town had never gone without water for a protracted period. He said the Regional Co-ordinating Council was considering the possibility of treating water from the Tono Dam, to supply to a number of communities including Bongo water sources were exposed to fluoride contamination.