Konongo Faces Looming Water Crisis as Owerri River Dries Up
Konongo Faces Looming Water Crisis as Owerri River Dries Up
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Residents of Konongo and surrounding areas in the Asante Akyem South municipality of the Ashanti Region face an impending water shortage as the Owerri River, a key water source, has reportedly ceased flowing.
The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in the region attributes the crisis to severe pollution caused by illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey. Over the past two months, the river’s turbidity has worsened significantly, disrupting operations at the local water treatment plant and reducing water distribution to households across the municipality.
Ashanti Regional Manager of GWCL, Dr. Hanson Mensah-Akutteh, expressed deep concern over the situation.
“For the past two months, the pollution has worsened. The Odaso River flowing to Obuasi has seen turbidity levels rise from 8,000 NTU to 18,000 NTU, while the Owerri River in Konongo has increased from 5,000 NTU to 12,000 NTU,” he explained. “As we speak, the Owerri River has completely stopped flowing. If this continues, Konongo may not have water at all, as there’s no water left in the river to extract for treatment.”
The situation has also impacted production costs. Rising foreign exchange rates, customer indebtedness, and the relentless effects of illegal mining have driven up expenses for GWCL.
Dr. Mensah-Akutteh revealed that power costs for water production have nearly doubled, increasing from 0.8 million cedis in mid-2024 to 1.5 million cedis per cubic meter by the end of the year. Similarly, the cost of water-treatment chemicals has surged from 0.2 million cedis to 1.3 million cedis within the same period.
To manage the crisis, GWCL has implemented strategic purchasing measures to minimize the impact of high exchange rates on the procurement of essential materials. The company is also servicing its pipelines to ensure adequate water flow during the festive season, despite the challenges.
With no immediate resolution to the river’s drying and pollution, residents of Konongo and its environs face a dire water supply situation unless urgent interventions are made.
