The Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has temporarily shut down the Agordome Water Treatment Plant in southern Volta Region, due to the deterioration in the raw water quality at the plant. 

The plant serves more than 700,000 people in Sogakope, Sokpoe, Tefle, Dabala, Anloga, Keta and surrounding areas.

“The turbidity has seriously disrupted our operations at the plant,” the Volta Regional Chief Manager of GWC, Emmanuel A. Johnson, said.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Ho last Thursday, Mr Johnson said the phenomenon typically occurred in the rainy season, adding that the plant was not designed to contain highly turbid raw water.

The plant, Mr Johnson said, lacked key treatment components such as a coagulant dosing system, sedimentation tank, and clarifiers.

He said as of October 15, the raw water turbidity measured 39.4 NTU, while the treated water turbidity recorded 29.4 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU), far exceeding the Ghana

Standards Authority’s regulatory limit of 5NTU for potable water. 

He further explained that due to the compromised water quality, the plant was shut down at 11:00 on October 15 and would remain out of operation until the raw water quality improved to acceptable levels.

The GWL regional chief manager gave an assurance that the situation was being closely monitored, and normal supply would be restored as soon as water quality improved at the plant.

He said there were discussions with authorities to supply water via tankers to critical institutions such as schools and hospitals, as a short-term solution.

Asked what alternative measures would be available to water consumers if the situation persisted, Mr Johnson maintained an elusive stance and said: “We do not want to go to that area now.

I do not want to comment on that. The situation will improve.”

Situation on ground

The Daily Graphic, going round some areas in the affected communities, observed that some individuals were delivering water from house to house with tricycles, in Sogakope and its environs.

“But it is the same dirty water they fetch from the river to sell to the households,” a health worker at Sogakope said.

To find a lasting solution to this recurring challenge, residents and officials are calling for long-term investments in water system upgrades, improved maintenance and alternative water sources.

Perennial challenge

The plant is particularly vulnerable during the rainy season when raw water quality deteriorates significantly.