The polluted Birim river
By Mudasiru Abdul Yakeen
The Eastern Regional management of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has shut down the Bunso water treatment plant over high turbidity of raw water source due to activities of illegal mining.
The illegal miners, in pursuit to mining mineral resources such as gold, have polluted the river with dangerous chemicals.
According to GWCL, the ideal raw water turbidity level appropriate to be treated must be less than 3000ntu.
But since March 28, they say, the raw water turbidity level has been on the rise, from about 9650ntu to 17140ntu within one week. The level of the raw water turbidity is now close to 8000ntu, making it impossible for water from the river to be treated, thus triggering the shutdown.
The public relations officer at the Eastern Regional of the GWCL, Kwadwo Daase, revealed that hardly does the Bunso water treatment plant operates 24 hours without being shut down along the line over increase raw water turbidity.
The Bunso water treatment plant pumps raw water from Birim River to produce about 60,000 gallons of treated water to serve communities such as Bunso, Nsutem, Etukrom and its environs when in operation.
