PURC warns of rising water tariffs due to Galamsey
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has issued a warning that water tariffs in Ghana could significantly increase if illegal mining activities, known as ‘galamsey,’ along the country’s water bodies are not swiftly addressed.
According to the utility regulator, galamsey is forcing the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to operate at costs nearly ten times higher than usual due to the extreme pollution of water sources.
Speaking during an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the state of water security in the face of galamsey’s damaging impact, Mr. Philip Agbezudor, the Volta Regional Director of PURC, sounded the alarm over the rising operational costs for water treatment.
“Due to the high level of pollution, the Ghana Water Company Limited must use more sophisticated chemicals such as polymer and others to treat the water. These new chemicals are expensive and imported,” Mr. Agbezudor explained.
He also raised concerns about the health risks posed by the use of these harsh chemicals, which have become necessary due to the severity of the pollution. “These chemicals should not be an option because of how hard they are, but given the pollution levels, they are essential for neutralizing the contamination in our rivers,” he noted.
The excessive pollution is also taking a toll on GWCL’s equipment, leading to frequent repairs that were not necessary when the rivers were less polluted. Mr. Agbezudor attributed the breakdown of several water treatment plants across the country to the harmful effects of galamsey activities.
He further revealed that the increased production costs are being passed on to consumers, potentially leading to higher water tariffs in the near future. The PURC official warned that the situation poses a serious threat to Ghana’s water security. “If we do not tackle this problem head-on, we could be facing a severe water crisis,” Mr. Agbezudor cautioned, urging immediate action to curb the menace of illegal mining and safeguard the nation’s water resources.
