Brong-Ahafo Regional Chief Manager of the Ghana Water Company Limited(GWCL), said Government was taking steps to obtain funds for the expansion of water facilities to increase water supply to the Techiman Municipality.

He said solving the problem of water shortage should be a shared responsibility between government, local authorities, the utility companies and beneficiary communities.

Mr. Ignatius Addai-Mensah, who was speaking at the Brong- Ahafo Regional celebration of World Water Day on the theme: "Coping With Water Scarcity," at Brekum, therefore, called on all and sundry to play an active role in protecting water bodies to sustain water supply. He said government was planning to provide water to the Berekum District and the Sunyani Municipality where water was also being rationed.

Concerning the S unyani Municipality, Mr. Addai-Mensah said the GWCL treatment plant could produce 7,000 metric cubic of water instead of the required 15,000 metric cubic.

He also said the Techiman Water Supply System, which was based on a conjunctive use of surface and ground water had an installed capacity of 4,500 metric cubic per day as against an estimated demand of 8,500 metric cubic per day resulting in water rationing for consumers in both areas.

He stated that feasibility studies have been concluded to build a dam on the Tano River near Abesim to increase water supply to Sunyani and its environs.

In an address read on his behalf, Mr. Kyere Yeboah, the District Chief Executive for Berekum, said the District was coordinating government's efforts to address the water situation in the district. He said government was currently sourcing funds from the Spanish Government to undertake the proposed Berekum Water Supply expansion project.

Mr Yeboah said currently pre-feasibility study report for the project had been completed by the Spanish Company who would undertake the construction.

He said "discussions between GWCL and the company have been concluded awaiting Ministerial approval to enable the contract to be signed".

Mr Yeboah said the Jinijini and Koraso Water System under the Small Town Water Project by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, have been completed at a total cost of 6.9 billion cedis. He said the communities paid five per cent of the cost while the assembly paid 10 per cent.

Mr, Yeboah said the assembly was collaborating with the German Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the construction of markets, health and educational facilities and water systems adding it has proposed for the construction of similar water system for Senase. He appealed to consumers to pay water bills regularly and promptly to enable the GWCL to maintain the facilities and supply potable water. Daasebre Dr. Amankona Diawuo II, the Chief of Berekum, decried the attitude of some traditional rulers and district authorities who connived with prospective land owners to sell parcels of land belonging to the Berekum Water Works and advised them to stop the practice.