Kpong, March 24, GNA -- The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has underscored the need for the construction of a second water treatment plant at Kpong to cater for the whole of Eastern Region, Tema Metropolis and parts of Accra.

Following that, the GWCL, in partnership with Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL) has submitted a proposal to the government and is awaiting the release of funds for the construction of the facility, Mr. David Asimeng, Head of Water Treatment at the Kpong Water Treatment Plant disclosed at Kpong on

Monday.

When approved, the project, which is to be sited near Mount "Yogaga", several metres away from the Kpong Water plant is to produce 41 million gallons of water a day to serve the whole of Eastern Region, Tema, Oyibi, Ashale Botwe and environs as well as parts of Accra. Mr. Asimeng said this when 60 tutors and students of Ashaiman Secondary Technical School (ASHIASEC) and some employees of the Tema branch office of the AVRL toured the facility at Kpong to acquaint themselves with its operations.

The tour, organised by the Tema branch office of AVRL formed part of activities marking this year's World Water Day which fell on last Saturday and was observed under the theme: "Sanitation". He said the existing facility produces a total of 44 millions gallons of water daily with 35.5 millions of gallons supplied to Tema and parts of Accra while 7.5 millions of gallons serves the Eastern region.

The Head of Treatment described the trend of water supply to consumers within the catchments area as woefully inadequate "as the supply has for sometime dwindled", blaming the situation on obsolete machines and population growth. The plant, he said, has two operating machines with the first installed in 1930 and the second which served as a reserve installed in 1966 and this called for a supplementary treatment plant to achieve the desired supply of water to consumers.

Until then, Mr Asimeng said water has to be rationed to ensure equity supply to all consumers. He took the visitors through the processing of pumping, screening and treatment of water and called for its judicious use as it is a precious product.

Mr Appiah Dadson, Tema Regional Communication Officer of the AVRL explained the involvement of tutors and students in the programme, saying they are good ambassadors to educate a larger community; relations and friends on the need to conserve water. He said realizing that man's activities along water bodies were leading to their dwindling, the "World Water Day" was instituted on March 22 by world leaders who came out with policies to draw the attention to governments to educate their citizens to protect water as it is essential commodity to life.

Mr Dadson said since the first summit in 1992 in Brazil, the Day had been observed by all governments with this year's celebration held under the theme; "Sanitation," explaining that water and sanitation are interrelated. 24 March 08