Burst pipes, exposed joints: How GWL losses drain revenue
There is a sight all too familiar in many parts of Weija/Accra, burst water pipelines, gushing clean treated water onto roadsides.
Sometimes, these bursts occur at exposed distribution joints, leaving the system vulnerable to damage or tampering.
These hidden faults, often overlooked until they flood the streets, are a major reason the Ghana Water Limited (GWL) continues to lose millions of cedis in treated water each year.
Water is life, but every drop lost through burst pipes, illegal connections and poor maintenance drains more than just reservoirs.
It drains revenue that should fund better supply systems, expansions and fairer tariffs for households and businesses.
According to GWL’s own reports in recent years, non-revenue water — treated water that never reaches paying customers — hovers around 50 per cent in many cities.
The financial impact is huge. By GWL’s estimates, tens of millions of cedis are lost each year to burst mains and leaks alone.
This means half of the water produced and pumped daily is wasted through leaks, pipe bursts, theft or meter inaccuracies.
In Accra alone, GWL pumps over 180 million gallons of water daily. When a main pipeline bursts or an exposed joint gives way, thousands of gallons are lost every minute.
That is revenue lost, because while the water flows freely into drains, the electricity, chemicals, manpower and distribution costs used to treat and pump it are already paid for.
This shortfall makes it harder for the company to pay for network upgrades, new pumps and better monitoring technology.
It can also affect how tariffs are set: if half of the treated water is lost, paying customers bear the hidden cost in higher unit charges for the water they actually receive.
Last month, the GWL reported yet another round of emergency repairs on aged mains at Kaneshie and Lapaz.
In Kumasi and Takoradi, similar scenes play out weekly.
Pipes installed decades ago are now corroded or undersized for today’s demand.
Population growth, heavy construction and sometimes reckless road works also damage lines.
Worse, exposed distribution joints — like the one I saw — are quick access points for illegal connections or accidental leaks when contractors work nearby.
Solving this problem demands a stronger pipeline maintenance culture, regular audits of exposed joints and stricter monitoring of construction around pipelines. In recent years, GWL has begun replacing old lines in parts of Accra, Kumasi and other urban centres.
But the scale of the problem means that pipe replacement alone is not enough.
Communities must help by reporting leaks quickly.
Contractors working near main lines must follow clear guidelines to prevent accidental damage.
For a country working towards a reliable 24-hour water supply in all communities, tackling the silent drain of burst pipes and exposed joints is a priority.
Yirenkyi Yahaya,
Staff, KFC.
Email: yirenyahaya@gmail.com
