Nine newly-formed Water Systems of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) in the Central Region have undergone training on new technologies for efficient water delivery to consumers.

It is part of efforts by agency to build the capacity of Water System Staff to achieve the global objective of providing sustainable and portable water to rural communities.

The three-day technical training dubbed “AF-Cluster Water Systems” commenced on July 21 to 23, at the CWSA Central Regional Office.

The training brought together staff from 24 water systems across districts of the region comprising Water System Managers, Engineers, Community Relations Officers and other relevant stakeholders.

The training

The objective of the training was to provide participants with basic knowledge about the whole process of water supply system and train them on the relevance of providing utility services.

Central Regional Director for CWSA, Kwesi Brown, says it will boost participants’ capacity to identify and solve key problems in the course of operation.

“Engineers do not manage problems, we solve problem be it technical, electro-mechanical and the new technology introduce by the agency that is The Smart Tap.”

He urged all participants to pay attention to details and list issues at their clusters that relate to operations, smart tap and electro-mechanical so it can be addressed concurrently in the course of the training.

The Staff of the Water Systems were also trained on the objectives of water utilities, types and components of water supply systems.

Consultant at Bhekans Services, Samuel Yoyowah, explained the factors that could lead to fall in water pressure and emphasised on the components of transmission and distribution lines, booster stations, RC suction tanks and reservoirs.

“In water supply system, it is important to note two key things; volume of water flow or Discharge.”

The Staff were also taken through operation and maintenance protocols, routine and periodic maintenance and troubleshooting.

The SMART TAP

This innovation is an off-grid water dispensing and management system which enables revenue collection, water entitlement and sustainable water provision.

The SMART TAP combines hardware, software and predefined business models to allow for water infrastructure to be delivered in an economically sustainable way using the latest technology.

One hundred and forty-six (146) communities in eight (8) districts of the Central Region are currently using this smart system.

Mr. Sablah Timothy Mensah of Pump Tech services trained participants on this new technology that the region has adopted- highlighted the components of the SMART TAP and it functions both hardware and software.

He guided participants on a step by step ejection of various component and challenges associated with the device and how to solve them.

“… by communicating hardware components of the smart tap, colours are used instead of names.”

The final training was on electro-mechanical led by Mr Prince Boafo with Swift Standard Limited, who handled the various electrical components of the pump station and how to protect them.

He emphasised on the various safety checks to do before switching a pump and the need to keep data at the pump station.

On the final day of the program, participants were transported to Obontser Cluster booster station and Abaasa cluster tank station for practical demonstration of the theory work.

Water System Manager of Abaasa Cluster, Miss Arlene Gyampoh on behalf of the participants thanked the CWSA Central Regional Management especially the Regional Director and the resource persons expressing how the training has been of great benefit to participants.