Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has issued an urgent appeal for the immediate cessation of all human activities and construction around the Kpeve water intake point on the Volta Lake. The company warned that ongoing encroachment is severely compromising the raw water quality, leading to the shutdown of the Kpeve Water Treatment Plant and cutting off water supply to thousands of residents in the Kpeve enclave.
The Kpeve Water Treatment Plant was forced to cease operations on Monday, May 18, after turbidity levels in the Volta Lake surged far beyond the plant’s treatment capacity. This situation has left several communities without a reliable source of potable water.
Context of the Crisis
Stanley Martey, the Public Relations Officer for Ghana Water Limited, explained the critical nature of the situation during an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse. He highlighted that the raw water intake had become excessively muddy due to disturbances in the vicinity of the water source.
The treatment facility is designed to handle turbidity levels of approximately 25 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU). However, recent readings at the Kpeve intake point exceeded 400 NTU, rendering the water untreatable by the plant’s existing infrastructure.
Impact of Encroachment
Mr. Martey emphasized that the continued encroachment and human activities around the intake point are directly responsible for the high turbidity. These disturbances stir up sediment, making the water unusable for treatment and distribution.
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