Rehabilitation works currently underway at the Barekese and Owabi dams, which started in October last year, are expected to increase potable water supply to the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs from 18 million gallons a day to 24 million gallons.
The project is three months ahead of time, and will be completed by the end of October, next year.
The project, which is estimated at 37.6 million Euros and involves the changing of raw water pumps at the Barekese Dam, the renewal of the motor control centre and the changing of high lift pumps, will increase the variable speed of pumping water from the dams to consumers.
As part of the project, an additional module is also under construction to increase the water supply.
The dosing system involving the use of potassium permanganate, aluminium sulphate, lime and chlorine to enhance the quality of water, is also in progress.
The existing filters at the dams are also being refurbished apart from the sludge treatment plant, which is also being installed to recycle waste water back through the system to enhance adequate water supply, especially during periods of scanty rainfall.
The management of Ghana Water Company made this known when the Parliamentary Sub-committee on Works and Housing paid a familiarisation visit to the Barekese and Owabi dams.
The visit enabled members of the committee to have first-hand information on the progress of work at the dams and to interact with the management to find out if they were encountering any problems with the rehabilitation works.
The members of the committee inspected the dams, filtration and treatment plants, as well as the modules and the high lift pumps to ascertain the extent of works and what needed to be done.
The Parliamentary Sub-committee was led by the Chairman, Mr Samuel Johnfiah.
Other members included Messrs John Gyetua, Eric Oduro, Alex Kyereme, Alex Sofo Seidu, Kwame Owusu Frimpong and Nana Abu Bonsrah.
The Regional Engineer of Ghana Water Company, Mr E.K. Appiah, who took members of the committee round, said little or no rehabilitation works had taken place at the site since they were built.
He said the situation was undermining the quantum of water supply to the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs, which is expanding at a faster rate.
Mr Appiah said but for lack of funding, the rehabilitation works should have started in 1998.
He gave the assurance that the rehabilitation works would not only be completed on schedule, but would also enhance adequate water supply to consumers, and thereby reduce the rationing of water, which is currently underway in the metropolis.
Mr Appiah said the completion of the rehabilitation works at the dams would also increase water supply to as far as 80 kilometres and stressed further that with the commitment, the project would be completed on schedule.
He said apart from the rehabilitation works at the dam, they would also provide a new booster station at Achiase in addition to the supply of 23,000 domestic water meters to enhance efficiency in water distribution and the billing of consumers.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Sub-committee, Mr Johnfiah, who briefed the media on behalf of his colleagues, commended the management for its commitment so far, and urged it to continue working hard for the project to be completed on schedule.
He said members of the committee were very much concerned about the problems of inadequate water supply in the country and gave the assurance that they would continue to initiate programmes that would bring the situation under control.
On the problem of encroachment in the catchment area and the payment of compensation, Mr Johnfiah said the committee would impress upon the government to source money to pay those who were affected by the acquisition of the land for the construction of the dam to prevent further encroachment.
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