Cape Coast, April 21, GNA- Water supply in the Cape Coast municipality and its surrounding areas is being rationed due to the low level of water in the Brimsu dam which supplies water to the municipality. Mr Kwaku Dovlo regional director of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), who made this known to the GNA in an interview at Cape Coast on Thursday, said the current water level at the dam is 15.3 feet instead of normal operation level of 24 feet.

He said in this regard, the daily production rate of 3.5 million gallons has been reduced by 35%, and expressed concern that this would also reduce, if the water level in the Brimsu dam drops further. Mr. Dovlo said as a short-term measure, his outfit under its dry season water management programme, has established "monitory points" in the Cape Coast township, to undertake daily checks on the supply water situation, to help identify areas that are facing serious water problems to provide them with tanker services.

He explained that the rationing has become necessary to enable as many people as possible to get water, but stressed that if the situation worsens the tanker services would be increased.

Mr Dovlo said as a medium-term measure, his outfit has identified four different sources of alternative treated water supply to the municipality in the event of a crisis.

According to him, water from two boreholes, which have been drilled at Dehia near Cape Coast, and the hauling of water from Baifikrom, Apam Junction and Daboase with tankers, were some of such measures. On the long-term solution, the regional director said the government has provided 1.8 million dollars for the dredging of the Brimsu dam and that a contractor was being selected to execute the project, adding that hopefully in the next few months actual dredging of the dam would start. Apart from dredging the dam, he said before the end of the year a new treatment plant would be built at Sekyere- Hemang, for the treatment of water from the Pra river, to augment water supply to Cape Coast, Elmina, Komenda and other surrounding areas.

He said the estimated cost of the project, including construction supervision, is 41 million Euros, and involves the laying of pipelines, provision of reservoirs.

On the 20 billion cedis schools water project, Mr Dovlo said it was about 95 per cent complete, and that tanks and pipelines, were being tested to ensure their proper operation, before they are handed over to beneficiary schools.

He urged residents in the municipality to take cognisance of the situation and endeavour to use water judiciously. He advised against the use of treated water for watering lawns, gardens and washing cars.