AVRL EXPLAINS RECENT WATER SHORTAGE

Management of Aqua Vitens Rand Ltd. (AVRL), the Operator, acting for and on behalf of Ghana Water Company Ltd. (GWCL), wishes to apologise for a recent spate of water shortages in parts of Accra and Tema.  The shortage has affected areas which otherwise receive normal flow, whilst worsening supply to suburbs where flow has over the years been erratic.

We would like the general public to understand that water supply depends on power supply.  As a result our operations have also been affected by the recent power outages.  The nature of our plants is such that when there is even a five-minute power cut, we cannot restore production until some six hours later.  If the power cuts are persistent or intermittent, it has a cumulative effect that takes several days to normalize.

Secondly, both our Kpong and Weija Treatment Plants were shut down last Tuesday, 3rd November, and Thursday, 5th November, for maintenance and pipeline repair that needed to be carried out.  These have also affected our production and supply levels.

Kpong is now operating normally.  However, as at yesterday, Monday, 9th November, repair works were being undertaken on an electrical transformer at Weija in collaboration with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).  We expect to revert to our regular rationing schedule once the electrical transformer is restored and power cuts become less frequent.

(As a state utility service ourselves, we appreciate the difficult conditions under which ECG has to operate.  We are both operating plants that date back to the 1950s).
Thirdly, customers should please keep in mind that even at the best of times, combined production from Kpong and Weija Treatment Plants stands at approx 90 million gallons daily, whilst demand is approx 150 million gallons…. and rising with increasing industrial and domestic demand, even as the output of treated water remains the same.

In the meantime, we advise customers to use water wisely by refraining from watering lawns, and minimizing the washing of vehicles with treated water as the dry season approaches.

NB: Kindly direct queries and enquiries to our Customer Call Centre on 0800 40000 (toll-free from Vodafone mobile & land lines).

Issued by Communications Department of AVRL, the Operator, for and on behalf of GWCL
 

Last changed: Nov 12 2009 at 2:09 PM