THE Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Mr. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, yesterday inspected the progress of work at the Daboase Water Treatment Plant in the Western Region.
The project is a €70-million Sekondi-Takoradi rehabilitation and water expansion, expected to deliver 22 million gallons (100,000 cubic metres) of water daily.
Executed by STRABAG AG of Australia, the project, funded with a concessionary loan from the Austrian Export Credit Agency (OeKB) and Commerzbank AG of Germany, will serve more than one million persons in Sekondi-Takoradi.
The scope of work includes the construction of a river bottom ramp/overflow weir on River Pra, downstream of the intake, to prevent seawater intrusion and provide a balanced stream to abstract raw water with minimal sediments and suspended soils.
Speaking to journalists, Mr. Adjei lamented that the cost of water production and treatment in most parts of the country has risen sharply due to the activities of illegal mining.
“Now, we are buying new chemicals that cost so much before we can treat our water. We caution those involved in the illegal activities to stop else we will continue to complain about water shortages,” the minister said.
He noted that illegal mining activities, including those on the River Pra at the Daboase Water Treatment Plant, have increased the cost of production and government expenditure required to maintain the safety, integrity, and sustainability of the country’s water systems.
“Galamsey contributes to water shortages; it is a major challenge to water production because our water bodies, sources of water, have been destroyed and we’re treating water with high turbidity for public consumption at a huge cost. Government,” Mr. Adjei emphasised, “had mapped out strategies and was working hard to curb illegal mining on water bodies,” urging the public to join the crusade against the menace.
In discussions with the STRABAG AG Project Manager, Vlad Falup, the minister encouraged the engineers to work diligently to meet the project deadline.
The Sekondi-Takoradi water corridor, Mr. Adjei noted, faces challenges as the increasing population relies on the Daboase Water Treatment Plant, stressing, “we should be able to pump more water and deliver to the people.”
“We will do our part to also ensure that you’re able to complete it by May, as you stated,” he assured.
Mr. Falup spoke about the treatment processes and the distribution chamber that would tie in phase one and future extensions. He explained that the pre-sedimentation tank removes large particles from the water without using chemicals, thereby decreasing future chemical costs. He also noted that the clarifier ensures that the water is visibly clear.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, DABOASE
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