Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has raised the alarm over dangerously high turbidity levels at the Kwanyaku Headworks, warning that continued water pollution could disrupt supply to more than 30 districts, including Winneba, Swedru, and Kasoa.
Speaking during a working visit to the facility, Managing Director Adam Mutawakilu revealed that turbidity levels had spiked to 32,000 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) last week, far exceeding the plant’s design limit of 2,500 NTU. Though figures had slightly eased to 11,000 NTU, the water remains nearly five times above safe operating capacity, placing severe strain on the plant’s equipment and staff.
“The plant is operating under extreme pressure. If this continues, we may be forced to shut down temporarily, which would have serious consequences for both GWL and consumers,” Mr. Mutawakilu said.
The high turbidity has been attributed to upstream pollution in the Ayensu River, possibly linked to illegal mining and other environmentally harmful activities. To trace the source, GWL plans to deploy drone surveillance, enabling authorities to take swift corrective action.
The crisis at Kwanyaku is part of a wider water infrastructure challenge in Ghana. Mr. Mutawakilu highlighted that Weija and Kpong treatment plants, serving Accra and surrounding areas, are also under strain. Many of the Weija plant’s pumps date back to 1965, and sections of the distribution pipelines still use asbestos, contributing to frequent leaks and breakdowns.
Daily water demand in Accra is estimated at 220 million gallons, but current production only reaches 140 million gallons, leaving a shortfall of nearly 80 million gallons each day. To manage scarce resources, GWL has halted commercial tanker operations and prioritized households directly connected to the main pipeline network.
Despite these challenges, the Managing Director reassured residents that production continues and that efforts are underway to upgrade aging infrastructure, secure government investment for new treatment plants, and improve efficiency.
“This is a wake-up call,” he said. “We must tackle upstream pollution, modernize our infrastructure, and bridge the supply-demand gap to safeguard Ghana’s water security for the future.”
