We Cannot Reduce Water Tariff – GWCL Boss

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has said it is not in the position to reduce water tariff for consumers due to the impact of pollution of water bodies on its operation.

The MD of GWCL Dr Clifford Braimah said the amount of aluminium sulphate used in treating polluted water by his outfit at Weija alone has increased from 200 to 300 bags in the past two years alone.

Speaking to Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday, Braimah laments that until Ghanaians take responsibility to halt polluting water bodies, the cost of production will keep rising to the disadvantage of consumers.

“We could also have a reduction in tariffs, it’s about the volumes and the expenditure. If we are able to recover a lot more at the same cost, it is expected that the tariff will come down,” he said.

“And so how do you achieve this when somebody is in the river itself polluting it, if you take 100 litres of water and you send it to the treatment plant of Ghana Water, under normal circumstances, you should be able to send your customers 95 litres.

“Today, we are doing between 65 and 75 litres, and places like Odaso we do 50%. So, once we continue to pollute the water, the capacity of GWCL to get the water to the people will reduce. So, we are going to have shortages in the system,” Braimah added.