Fishing threatens water production in kpeve

Fish farming and drag net fishing in the supply pool of the Kpeve Water Pumping Station pose serious challenges to water production at the head works. Mr. Daniel Gezele, station manager at kpeve head works was briefing some students of Holy Spirit Catholic School and Dzolo Senior High School and some sections of the public after their guided tour of the Kpeve plant to mark World Water Day in the Volta Region on Friday. Mr. Daniel Gezele said chemicals being introduced into the pool by these fishermen might force the company to vary its treatment system at an additional cost to maintain the level of quality of water from Kpeve. He explained that operational designs for water pumping stations were unique to the landscape, nature and level of impurities in the water to be treated so that the introduction of chemicals as in the case of Kpeve created serious problems.

The visit to the site showed fishing activities being carried out with cages all over the river. The area which was occupied by only few indigenes is now fast developing into a bigger community with more economic activities. Notwithstanding all these, Torgbui  Akliku Ahorne II, the regional director of environmental protection agency is confident these activities could not adversely affect the production of potable water by the Ghana water company. According to him, his directorate has put in place certain control mechanism to ensure activities of these fish farmers do not affect the quality of water being produced. He said his team periodically tests the water to ensure it is wholesome and above all educate the farmers on how to feed the fishes with the right quantity of feeds.

In response to concerns being raised by consumers especially those in Ho about challenges they encounter as far enjoying constant flow of water through their pipes is concerned, Mr. Anthony Gablezu-Alomatu, Volta Regional Chief Manager said there were number of factors contributing to it. According to him, the station commissioned since 1993 was designed to produce 2.4million gallons daily but population of consumers in Ho and its environs over the years has been escalating without any major upgrade on the systems to match with the demand. He said until an upgrading is done consumers have to bear with the ration approach which is currently ran in order to manage the situation.

This year’s celebration has the theme, “water and energy” which lays emphasis on the relationship between water and energy. According to regional chief manager, water and energy are bedfellows. The absence of one would affect the other.