The start of the dry season has triggered a water shortage across the country, compelling the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to begin rationing water to meet demand.
According to a statement by the GWCL, the dry season has led to fall in water supply for treatment and onward distribution to consumers.
To make their water rationing effective, the GWCL has urged the public to ensure the judicious use of water by avoiding indiscriminate watering of lawns with treated water, moderating the use of treated water for car washing by resorting to the use of buckets, instead of hosing, shutting all taps when not in use, in their various homes and offices among others.
The press statement dated January 12 and issued by the Public Relations and Communications Unit of the GWCL said consumers were experiencing the erratic flow of water in some parts of the country as a result of the dry season.
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The statement said all District Offices had been requested to announce to customers days when water would be flowing so customers could store some water.
The statement said the use of treated water by consumers for keeping lawns green, for commercial washing of vehicles coupled with greater dependence on rainwater had also compounded the problem by taking to treated water use.
These practices, the GWCL explained, eased the pressures in the pipelines thereby causing low pressures and no flow in some areas, especially the hilly areas.
The statement said the management of GWCL was also concerned about the impact of the dry season on the raw water sources, which had been compounded by activities of illegal alluvial mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The GWCL further assured the general public that the company, together with the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, was working to improve water delivery in the country.