The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has begun laying new pipes as part of measures to solve the intermittent water supply that has plagued Adabraka and its surrounding communities in Accra, for the past four weeks.
Under the first phase of the project, new high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines are being laid at the stretch between the Paloma Hotel and Societe General Bank, around Kokomlemle.
The second phase will involve the laying of pipes to join an intersection beneath the overpass at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, if water supply does not improve after the first phase.
The project is expected to be completed in a week.
With the completion of the first phase of the project, GWCL has assured that the affected areas would experience some improved water supply at the weekend.
Pipelines
Briefing journalists in Accra yesterday, the Head of Communications at the GWCL, Mr Stanley Martey, explained that the challenge had come about because unauthorised structures had been built on GWCL pipelines and valves.
He said the situation had caused blockage and consistent burst of the lines, leading to low pressure and erratic flow in some areas.
He indicated that ideally the next step would have been to demolish buildings on the pipelines but said, “to attach a human face to the demolishing, GWCL would redirect the pipelines.”
Mr Martey said the redirection of the pipelines would rather affect some wooden structures on the other side of the road to make way for the pipes to be laid.
“When we are done with that we expect water to flow freely through a full circumference of the pipeline and improve the pressure at Adabraka and its surrounding communities,” he added
Watchdogs
Meanwhile, Mr Martey has asked the public to be watchdogs in their communities and to report to law enforcement agencies or the municipal assemblies, people who would be building at unauthorised places especially, areas demarcated for utilities.
He apologised to the affected communities for the water shortage and assured that the GWCL was working around the clock to restore regular flow.