NETCOWAS commends community-managed potable water services

The Network of Community Water Services (NETCOWAS) has commended rural communities and small towns in Ghana for the sound management of their pipe water systems, which has resulted in continuous access to affordable drinking water for residents.

Information gathered revealed that most of these communities have been managing their water systems since the 1990s and have made investments in extensions, expansions, and major replacements from their own resources and water revenues.

In a goodwill message, the President of NETCOWAS, Okotwasa Nana Owusu Sarpong I, the Mpobihene Otumfour Brempong, noted that “all these piped water services are selling water and using the water revenues to finance operation and maintenance expenditures”.

Community-managed piped water services constitute an important water service provider group representing about 80% of all water service providers in Ghana’s rural water sub-sector.

This is a significant contribution of community-managed piped water services to Ghana’s water supply coverage.

In accordance with the global theme for this year’s World Water Day Celebration, which is to ‘accelerate change’, NETCOWAS has pledged commitment to work with its members to improve the sustainability of rural and small towns piped water services.

This will be through the adoption of business principles in the management of water services, ensuring improved efficiency in service delivery, and the promotion of learning and performance and peer review.

While commending the government and district assemblies for their support to rural and small towns, NETCOWAS drew attention to some challenges facing community-managed piped water supply.

They cited ageing rural and small towns piped water supply infrastructure which needs an urgent capital injection for rehabilitation and expansion.

“Also, over-reliance on the national grid, and hence, the need to transition to solar power to help reduce high energy costs and contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions for climate gains”.

The network also threw light on the low access to prepaid water meters.

It has, therefore, urged the relevant stakeholders to prioritise un-served communities for water supply investments to benefit the over three million Ghanaians who still drink from surface water sources at the risk of their health, especially for children under five years.