Declaring Barekese catchment area security zone laudable
The Water Resources Commission (WRC) has declared its intention to declare the catchment area of the Barekese Dam in Kumasi a security zone.
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The commission has found this necessary following illegal artisanal fishing activities upstream of the dam which have already led to the closure of three water intake facilities by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).
Compounding this problem is the more serious activity of illegal mining in the catchment area of the dam.
It is worthy of note that the Barekese Dam is not the only facility that suffers from human activities in its catchment area. Many facilities that serve as sources of water supply to many Ghanaians, such as the Weija water treatment plant, are operating under similar circumstances.
The situation does not only have implications for the survival of our dams but also raises major public health and economic concerns for communities and the country.
Water-borne diseases are still a major cause of death, particularly in children, and it is also a significant economic constraint in this country.
Adequate supply of potable water is one of the major prerequisites for a healthy life and must not be taken for granted.
Treatment of raw water involves the removal of contaminants to produce water that is pure enough for human consumption.
The high levels of contamination require large amounts of chemicals to treat it, as is the case with the Barekese and the Weija dams, a situation which could result in a residue of the chemicals in the water.
Among the most noticeable residual effects is the unpleasant taste of treated water. But other after-effects may be more significant and injurious to humans.
Unfortunately, too much residue from chemicals may also produce by-products, some of which may be carcinogenic, as well as affect aquatic life.
These health hazards cannot be overlooked because of the burden they pose to the nation and the earlier steps are taken to deal with the problem, the better it would be for the nation.
This is why the Daily Graphic agrees with Nana (Prof) Agyewodin Adu Gyamfi Ampem, the Chairman of the WRC, that if nothing is done about the problems of encroachment and water pollution, closure of th water intake facilities of the Barekese Dam will become a constant feature that will lead to major problems.
It is obvious that the reafforestation of the catchment area of the dam, as a means of preventing it from the activities of encroachers, is not enough.
Further protective measures, such as turning the area into a security zone, should be encouraged.
The Daily Graphic urges all who depend on the Barekese Dam for their domestic water needs, state and private bodies, to cooperate to save the dam, as the situation at the moment requires the efforts of all.
