Private partners in the water sector have called for government recognition and support in the area of community water treatment and supply.

They called for some intervention to reduce their operational costs, to enable them to deliver timely, affordable and potable water to rural communities in the country.

Mr Kwaku Adu Boateng, Chief Executive Officer, K .A Water Engineering Services Limited, a private sector water operator, was addressing the First Ghana water treatment conference and exhibition in Accra on Thursday, which brought together experts in the water sector to discuss best practices, policies and programmes to ensure quality service delivery.

The conference was under the theme:"The importance of water treatment in Ghana: Health and Career Issues”.

Mr Boateng commended government for the initiation of the public-private-partnership projects with the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), aimed towards pro-poor, affordability and sustainability of water supply to rural communities.

He however argued that the role of small and medium size private water providers, whether for- profit or not, must be acknowledged and regulated, as people especially those in the rural communities often rely on these providers as their main source of water supply.

Mr Boateng said despite the successes chalked over the implementation of pro-poor water supply, several challenges still hampers the smooth execution of the project, notably, non-availability of funds, high interest rates on loans acquired to execute works and lack of grant from the central government and donor agencies.

He also mentioned bureaucracies at government agencies for licence and certificates and the sustainability of water supply from the GWCL.

Mr Boateng noted that in recent past, major donors have actively promoted private sector participation and focused on the role of large multinational water companies, but failed to take into account issues such as affordability in terms of operational cost that are often transferred unto the end-user.

He said it was important that users have their say in the provision, management and regulation of their water and sanitation facilities hence water solutions should be pro-poor, affordable and sustainable.

Dr Philip Gyao Boakye, Deputy Director, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, said the conference would discuss simple and affordable ways of ensuring clean water supply to rural communities to prevent water borne diseases like cholera.

He said most water borne disease were deadly, yet preventable and urged communities that rely on surface water to treat the commodity using simple treatment methods such as boiling and filtration before drinking.

He said lack of adequate professionals in the water sector to replace the aging personnel was worrying and advised students who are science inclined to take interest in the area to replace the gap of professionals who would be leaving the sector.

Mr Boakye later launched the Water Treatment Training Programme to serve as source of practical training and knowledge sharing platform for various stakeholders.

The occasion also showcased an exhibition by some private sector service providers on modern technologies and other improved ways of water treatment and preservation.