We use 60 bags of aluminium sulphate instead of 20 to treat water from Pra River due to galamsey

We use 60 bags of aluminium sulphate instead of 20 to treat water from Pra River due to galamsey

Illegal mining activities in Ghana have become the concern of various Ghanaians as it keeps destroying our forest reserves and various water bodies.

The likes of River Ankobrah, Bia River, River Tano, Amoya Stream and others that serve as drinking water for the general public have now been rendered contaminated and polluted with various chemicals from all the vices of galamsey.

The main drinking source of water for the people of the Western Region, the River Prah and Bonsa has suffered the same fate and it’s taking a toll on the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL)

According to Nana Yaw Barnie who is the Communications officer for the GWCL in the Western and Central Regions, the company now spends more on treating water for public consumption.

Explainig this, he indicated they now use 60 bags of aluminium sulphate to treat the Pra River at their Daboase treatment plant instead of 20.

Also, they now use 10 bags of aluminium sulphate to treat the Bonsah River instead of the previous 1.5 bag.

He said, “Due to galamsey on our river bodies, we were using 20 bags of aluminium sulphate to treat water at our Daboase treatment plant for the water we get from Pra River but now we are using 60.

“Also, Bonash is also a place were we treat water for people of Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality and the same quantity of water we used 1.5 bags to treat, we are now using 10 bags and that is what we are dealing with.”

Speaking on the health implications of the use of aluminium sulphate, he indicated there are no known side effects to the consumers.