Director of Communications at the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Stanley Martey, has rationalized that the frequent hand washing practice by Ghanaians amidst the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak may increase demand for water thereby affecting few areas in water supply.

In an interview on the Happy Morning Show with Samuel Eshun aired on Happy 98.9FM, he explained: “We are also aware of the COVID-19 pandemic of which we have all been admonished to be washing our hands under running water. Now, we are washing our hands regularly under running water which means that it is going to affect demand for water because more people will be using more water now. If you also realize, we are now communicating with other parts of our body like our shoulders, our legs and all manner of communication so we are also not only being asked to wash our hands regularly but to also bath or wash down thoroughly more than we did previously. In all these it is very clear that demand for water will be going higher”.

He thus admonished Ghanaians to use water judiciously by avoiding unnecessary watering of lawns and washing of vehicles with treated water. He also added that people who live in areas where there is constant supply of water should manage water wisely so that water will be available for supply to other areas that lack constant water supply.

Stanley Martey was speaking to the recent statement by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) that stated that the Ghana Water Company Limited is experiencing some challenges with water supply in Accra and most cities.

In his interview with Happy FM, he explained that these “challenges” included but were not limited to the damaging effect from galamsey operations in the last few months and the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic has affected water supply in the country.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization and other health organizations have recommended the frequent washing of hands with soap and running water to reduce the chances of contracting the Coronavirus disease.