Anyinam (E/R), July 24, GNA- The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) is to spend 400,000 dollars to expand water supply to Anyinam and improve its delivery.

The project, which would start in2005, would involve the expansion of the water reservoir, expansion and improvement of the treatment plant and the extension of supply of pipe-borne water to all parts of Anyinam. The Eastern Regional Director of GWCL, Mr Ebenezer K. Garbrah said this at a forum organised by the East Akim District Secretariat of the National Commission on Civic Education in collaboration with GWCL.

Mr Garbrah said the GWCL would use legal means to collect its debts from clients to help reduce the loss made by the company in the Region. The East Akim District Manager of GWCL, Mr W. A. Abbey said surface mining had deteriorated the quality of water for the Anyinam area and this has caused an increase in the cost of water treatment.

The District Commercial Manager, Mr. D. O. Afrifa said out of the monthly water rate of 10 million cedis sent to consumers in the Anyinam area often 1.5 million cedis remained unpaid.

He said the company spends a lot of money on its operations including a monthly bill of six million dollars for the importation of chemicals and payment of monthly electricity bill of seven billion cedis nationally to the Electricity Company of Ghana.

He appealed to the people to pay their water rate regularly to enable the company to meet the cost of its operations.

Mr Seth Amissah, East Akim District Fire Officer, called for the protection of the forest in the area because all the rivers that served as sources of water originated from the forest.

''Formerly bushfire was a threat to the forest but now illegal chainsaw operations have taken over as the greatest threat to the forest in the area.''