The Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CSWA) is demanding an end to sand winning activities on the River Volta at Asutsuare that is threatening water supply to about 20,000 residents in the enclave.

A company run by some Chinese and Ghanaian nationals is undertaking sand winning activities at the Asutsuare Water Treatment Plant intake point where water is treated and distributed to community members.

According to the plant managers, the activities of Z and J 198 Ghana Limited agitates sand in the river and the silt particles end up in the water treatment machines, destroying it.

The plant managers also allege the company uses toxic chemicals in their activities and sometimes their equipment spill oil in the water, thereby polluting it and causing the death of aquatic animals.

Isaac Nyarko, a technician at the water treatment site says they thus have to use high levels of expensive chemicals to treat the water before distributing.

Related: Sandwinners destroying water source for Asutsuare residents

The Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CSWA) is the government body in charge of water treatment plants in rural areas whilst the Ghana Water Company Limited manages urban water.

Chief Executive Officer of the CWSA Worlanyo Kojo Siabi tells Joy news the situation is worrying.

“For me, water is more important than the tax they pay. It cannot be compared with the thousands of people who depend on that water,” he told Joy News.

Mr Siabi says another Chinese company engaged in fishing activities on the river has been introducing huge does of chemicals in the water, polluting it further and increasing the cost of treatment.

“A little bit upstream, there are those involved in the rearing of fish. If you test the water, there is a lot of nutrients now. Why can’t they move away from the intake so we can provide water to the rural communities?” he quizzed.

He is calling on other state institutions to step in and stop the activities of both the sand winning and fishing companies operating close to the treatment plant.

“We have developed a report and sending to the Ministries of Environment and Fisheries, as well as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)….They have to look at it. They have to move them away because we cannot compromise the provision of water for thousands of people,” he told Joy News.