GWL suspends tanker use of fire hydrants nationwide to trace water losses

The Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has suspended the use of fire hydrants by water tankers across the country for one month to help trace the causes of high non-revenue water losses.

The Managing Director of GWL, Adam Mutawakilu, in a radio interview with Accra based Citi FM on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 said the measure, backed by the company’s board, is intended to help determine whether tanker use of hydrants contributes to system-wide losses.

“We said, okay, let’s try for one month. Let’s suspend tanker service to fire hydrants,” Mr Mutawakilu said. “In a matter of one month, we’ll be able to assess whether these leakages, this non-revenue water, and how much the use of fire hydrants contributes to the non-revenue water.”

He said the company currently accounts for only 48 per cent of the water it produces. In Greater Accra, for example, GWL produces about 140 million gallons of water daily but is only able to account for 67 million gallons. The remaining 73 million gallons remain unaccounted for.

“We believe that in Ghana, if in Accra alone 73 million gallons a day physically leaked into the system, then within one week the whole of Accra should be flooded. That means that most of this water is being consumed by individuals who do not have an agreement with us to supply water.”

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