Accra, Oct. 26, GNA - The Ghana Water Operator, Aqua Vitens Rand Limited, acting for and on behalf of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), has formed new Loss Control teams throughout the country in a bid to improve its customer base and the water situation.

It said in a statement issued by Mr Stanley Martey, Public Relations Manager, that the teams, which would begin their operations in November, would check and disconnect all illegal connections and by-passes.

They would, with the help of the Police, disconnect and confiscate all in-line pumps connected directly to distribution mains and check and rectify all other malpractices against the GWCL. The statement said all illegal customers were being given the opportunity to become legal customers by granting them a 30-day amnesty period effective November 1.

=93Within this period, all illegal customers who voluntarily submit themselves will not be charged with any penalty for illegal water consumed, but will pay the minimum service connection fee to enable them to become legal customers.

=93All customers using in-line pumps connected to GWCL's main lines should desist from such acts which contravene the public utilities regulations.=94

The statement reminded customers that they were to deal with only district and commercial managers in the districts of their abode and not front men or contractors.