Keeping the motherland ‘watered’ sustainably
The people of Nsawam/Adoagyiri and other places that were affected by the recent water crisis may be heaving a sigh of relief because the rains are here. Indeed, the rains are here, and as I write, the Densu basin is full again.
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Many were the theories that went awry during the crisis. While a school of thought blamed the situation purely on human activities such as unorthodox fishing methods, sand winning, mining, dumping of human waste and the like in our water bodies, others said the drying-up of the rivers was an act of God.
Some members of Parliament even blamed the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) for the problem and consequently summoned officials of the company to appear before them.
So now that the rains are here, would we say the proponents of the theories were not completely right after all and then go to sleep like the proverbial vulture and say “okyena mesi me dan”? (I shall build my house tomorrow)?
Notwithstanding the unorthodox practices in our raw water sources in the country, it is time to realise that the effects of climate change are beginning to get real in the Motherland.
Climate change and water
The relationship between water and climate is a closely-knit one and so as we hear about changes in the climate, we should expect that fresh water supplies could be affected negatively.
Climate change is a phenomenon we can no longer deny, as its effects have become increasingly evident worldwide. The effects of climate change are estimated to worsen as research shows an overall long-term warming trend in global temperatures into the foreseeable future.
It has been established that no continent would be struck as severely as Africa by the impact of climate change. This, according to a 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, is due to the geographical position of our continent and its limited adaptive capacity, exacerbated by widespread poverty and the existing low levels of development.
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Given the global and continental estimations on the effects of climate change, particularly on fresh water sources and our own experience in recent times, it becomes important to find out what the experts say, what solutions could be prescribed and the preventive measures that could be recommended to ensure that Mother Ghana is ‘watered’ on a sustainable basis.
Densu crisis was anticipated
A Principal Basin Officer of the Water Resources Commission, Mr Ronald Abrahams, says the drying up of some rivers in the country, especially the Densu, is largely due to ‘el nino’ (long dry spells, which originate from the Pacific region and affect other parts of the world, including the equatorial region). He maintained that these long dry spells recur in varying periods over time.
According to Mr Abrahams, the Densu crisis was anticipated and so the Water Resources Commission (WRC) made specific recommendations in the Densu Basin Integrated Water Resources Management Plan of 2007 to forestall any eventuality.
Consider inter-basin transfers
Those recommendations, according to Mr Abrahams, included a proposal for Ghana to consider inter-basin and intra or sub-basin water transfers. Inter-basin water transfer, as he explained, is the process of transporting water from one basin (or watershed) to another by canals, pipe systems or transmission lines; as a way of dealing with water shortages. He added that raw water could also be treated before the final water was transferred.
Literature shows that inter-basin and sub-basin water transfer is not a new phenomenon. While ancient water supply examples exist, the first modern developments were undertaken in the 19th century in Australia, India and the United States; where large cities such as Denver and Los Angeles would not exist as we know them today, without water transfer.
Since the 20th century, many more similar projects have followed in other countries, including Israel, Canada and China.
While inter-basin water transfers can be done for other reasons including irrigation and the sustainability of animal and plant life, Mr Abrahams believes that what we need in Ghana is the typical supply-oriented engineering measures to ensure that areas with perennial water supply challenges are taken care of.
The Volta can supply water to the entire nation
He said the Volta River alone, which drains about 70 per cent of Ghana, is more than enough to serve as the raw water source for the entire country, given the fact that it is fed by reliable tributaries such as the Oti River from neighbouring Togo, the White Volta from Burkina Faso and the Black Volta from Cote d’Ivoire.
Although research indicates that inter-basin transfers entail daunting engineering works involving diversions, tunnels and/or large pumping schemes and reservoirs and the costs are correspondingly large, Mr Abrahams believed that attempts at inter-basin transfers in Ghana could begin on a phase-by-phase basis until all the water stressed areas of the country are covered.
“This cannot be left to the GWCL alone to do. We need a concerted effort that would have to be spearheaded by the government”, Mr Abrahams emphasised.
Ultimately, we cannot dismiss as fanciful the need to also protect our watersheds, explore further our groundwater resources and also consider rainwater harvesting in homes, industries and on farms to serve as alternatives to our mainstream water supply sources.
Let the government rise up to the occasion and engage the experts and all related entities to do what must be done so that the good people of the Republic of Ghana can get access to safe drinking water on a sustainable basis.
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Writer’s e-mail address: solaceamaakomeah@gmail.com