Ghana Water Company distributes projects evenly

The current urban water supply coverage nationwide is 76 per cent and the ultimate aim of Ghana Water Company is to achieve 100 per cent coverage by the year 2025. In order to achieve this ambitious target, the company is ensuring that its water supply projects are evenly spread across the length and breadth of the country. Currently being executed are the Wa Water and Akim Oda-Akwatia-Winneba Water Project.

The Wa Water Supply Project

The existing water supply system in Wa in the Upper West Region is based on ground water made up of eighteen boreholes. The installed capacity of these boreholes is 400,000 gallons per day but the current production is 300,000 gallons per day against an estimated demand of 2.5 million gallons per day. This means the present water production for Wa is only 11.67 per cent of current daily demand.

To make up for the shortfall in supply, a more reliable water system to meet current and future demand is now based on surface water source which is the Black Volta River. The Government of Ghana has therefore signed a loan agreement with the Korean Exim Bank for an amount of $51.54 million to undertake the Wa Water project to meet the year 2025 water demand of the municipality. The Contractor is Messrs Kolon-Pyunghwa Consortium with Shinwoo Engineering Company as the Consultant.

The project which commenced in February, 2013 involves the construction of an intake facility of 3.6 million gallons per day and a 3.3 million gallon per day conventional treatment plant. It also comprises the construction of a booster station to transmit 3.3 million gallons of water per day to Wa and surrounding communities. Two water storage tanks with the capacity of 220,000 gallons each are also being constructed as part of the project.

Additionally, 1.5 kilometers of raw water transmission pipeline is being laid together with 35 kilometers of treated water transmission mains. To improve supply in the service areas, the distribution network is being expanded by 20 km while public stand pipes are being erected in selected areas.

In order to ensure reliable supply of electricity, a dedicated power line is being provided to the plant. When completed, the under-listed communities and institutions will benefit from the project: Wa Municipality, University of Development Studies Campus, Jambusi, Dorimon, Bamaho, Sombo, Danko, Kpaguri/Chokor, Nakori, Wa Polytechnic-Kpongo Road, Wa-Kumasi Road (Kumfableba) and its environs. 

Residents will soon heave a  sigh of relief because the project is currently 85 per cent complete. 

Akim Oda, Akwatia and Winneba Project 

The Akim Oda-Akwatia-Winneba Water Supply Rehabilitation and Expansion project is a turnkey project aimed at providing 7.4 million gallons of water per day to improve water supply to Akim Oda, Akwatia, and Winneba.

GWCL signed a work contract with Messrs Arda Group Limited of Turkey for the construction of a conventional treatment plant at Akim Oda and the rehabilitation of the existing treatment plant and distribution network at Winneba where residents have been experiencing acute water shortages for the past couple of years. 

The total cost of the project is $164.5 million and is being financed by Turkey Exim Bank and the Government of Ghana.

Akim Oda

The existing Akim Oda Water Supply System is based on the abstraction of ground water using six boreholes. The yield from the boreholes operating at 20 hours a day is only 132,000 gallons against a daily water demand of 1.35 million gallons. This therefore calls for an alternative system that will meet the ever-growing demand of Akim Oda and other communities like Akim Asene, Akim Aboabo, Akim Manso and their environs.

The project involves the construction of a 7.4 million gallon capacity treatment plant and the laying of 11.17 kilometers of 25 inch diameter HDPE transmission mains from the Akim Oda Treatment Plant to a 1.32 million gallon ground level tank at Akim Asene. It also involves the laying of 35 kilometers of 25 inch diameter HDPE transmission mains from Akim Asene ground level tank to Akwatia ground level tank. Also, the construction of about 242.56 kilometers of distribution mains is in progress at Akim Oda. Two elevated water tanks of 55,000 gallon capacity each are also being built at Manso and Amantem. 

To provide accommodation for staff, two residential block of flats each will be built at Akim Oda, Kade and Koforidua. As part of the project, the contractor will create Zonal Metering and District Metering Areas and also supply and install bulk electromagnetic General Packet Radio System (GPRS) data loggers and domestic meters. The project is 78 per cent complete.

Akwatia 

Akwatia, the capital of Kwaebibirim district, currently has no treatment plant since the old one serving the area has been out of operation for the past ten years. Akwatia is therefore going to be served adequately from the water treatment plant being constructed at Akim Oda. The new plant will provide water to Akwatia with an estimated population of 70,000 up to the year 2025 water demand.

The Akwatia water project involves the laying of 143.55 km of HDPE distribution mains. It also involves the construction of 880,000 gallon capacity ground level tank at Bodomase as well as a 55,000 gallon elevated water tank at N0. 4. Two residential block of flats are also being constructed at Akwatia for staff. It also involves Zonal Metering and District Metering Areas, as well as the supply and installation of bulk electromagnetic General Packet Radio System (GPRS) data loggers and domestic meters. It again comprises the establishment of a Regional Geographical Information System Office, training of staff and the supply of spare parts and laboratory equipment. The project is about 78 per cent complete.

Winneba

River Ayensu serves as the source of raw water for the existing water supply system at Winneba. It is based on a conventional treatment plant with installed capacity of three million gallons a day. Over time, however, the installed capacity of the plant has declined.

The ongoing project is 78 per cent complete and is meant to rehabilitate the plant to its installed capacity of 3 million gallons a day. It also involves the laying of 12.7 kilometers of 25 inch diameter HDPE raw water pipeline. Again, 5.3 kilometers of 10 inch diameter HDPE transmission mains will be constructed from Winneba to Swedru Booster together with 83.2 kilometers of distribution mains. The intake and high lift pumps are also being upgraded to meet the year 2025 water demand. 

Two residential block of flats each are being built at Winneba and Cape Coast to house staff. Moreover, it involves Zonal Metering and District Metering Areas as well as the supply and installation of bulk electromagnetic GPRS data loggers and domestic meters. It also comprises the establishment of a Regional Geographical Information System Office, training of staff and the supply of spare parts and laboratory equipment. In addition, a district office and workshop are being built at Winneba.