The Bonsa water treatment plant, which supplies 75% of potable water to the Tarkwa-Nsueam Municipality in the Western Region has been shut down due to illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.
This was announced by the Ghana Water Limited (GWL) in a memo issued on Thursday, January 2, 2024.
According to GWL, the galamsey activities on the Bonsa River have made it difficult to abstract water for treatment.
GWL explained that the river Bonsa, the primary water source for the plant, has been rendered untreatable.
“We have tried all that we could but to no avail, hence the shutdown. The river is still being monitored for acceptable parameters to enable us to restart production, and until then, the plant remains closed.
“We promise to update the public on any developments with regard to the current situation,” the memo stated.
The shutdown is expected to significantly impact Tarkwa and its environs, as residents will have to rely on alternative, often less reliable water sources.
The GWL assured the public that the river is being monitored for acceptable water quality parameters and pledged to provide updates on any developments.