Water crisis in many towns and villages in Ghana is a perennial problem. As a result, many people are contracting various water-borne diseases. But the Dutch government is spearheading an initiative that is set to ensure that over 85 communities across the country get potable water.  A collaboration with WaterHealth Ghana seeks to provide at least 40 hi-tech water treatment plants in under-served communities in the Ashanti Region.

Under the revolutionize water supply project, communities across the country will be provided with fresh purified water from the ground into homes.

Two of the Water Health Centers have been commissioned at Effiduase and Kantinkyiren in the Ashanti region with the support of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Charity Foundation.

These communities have over the years been without portable drinking water, forcing residents to depend mostly on unwholesome sources; forcing many residents to contract water-borne diseases such as diarrhea and cholera.

But there’s relief on the horizon now. WaterHealth Ghana hopes to change that story as a plant that can purify 3000 liters of water in an hour is commissioned. The Kantinkyire project was commissioned by the Asantehene Otufuo Osei Tutu II whose father hails from that community.

Residents of Effiduase like their counterparts at Kantinkyiren now have access to water purified through state of the art technologies.

“The problem this country faces is that you have contaminated water available to the people. In fact 25% of the children today are sick because of the contaminated water that they drink. We don’t create water but we purify water which is not good for human at the lowest cost in the world”, reveals Vikas Shah, Chief Operating Officer of WaterHealth Ghana.

Under the Ghana Wash Window, the Dutch government is supporting the provision of safe drinking water across the country with a 20 million euro grant.

WaterHealth sets up the WHCs in underserved communities under a Public Private Partnership.

A potential beneficiary community must first provide land, water, electricity and then sign concessionary agreement with WaterHealth Ghana.

“Once we build it, then we do education in the community. We do marketing; we do branding-we convince people to purchase the water. We want to move people away from the sachet to this water which is better quality and prices are also cheaper”. Chief Development Officer of WaterHealth International, Sameer Mithal told Nhyira Fm at the commissioning of the Effiduase project.

District Chief Executive for Sekyere East, Kwadwo Addai is encouraging residents to patronize the facility to protect them against water-related health conditions.

A facility costs between 50,000 and 100, 000 US dollars and can supply communities with up to 3000 liters of purified water per an hour. WaterHealth Ghana has launched an ambitious plan to reach 20 million Ghanaians.

This, it want to achieve with the support of foreign partners and Ghana’s Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

“Once the proposed footprint increases to such levels, that is, 400-500 plants, four out of five Ghanaians will have access to clean and safe water at arm’s length. Further, WaterHealth is committed to pursuing this ambitious goal regardless of the challenge it posses to the company”. Mr. Shah has said.

Water produced out of these plants is referred to as the Dr Water. That is, residents drink from a source that protects them against diseases.