The Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Mr. Adam Mutawakilu, has said that Ghana loses more than 150 million gallons of treated water every day due to widespread leakages and illegal connections.
According to Mr. Mutawakilu, this staggering loss poses a serious threat to national water security and demands urgent attention.
“More than 52% of the water we treat disappears before it reaches consumers. That’s over 150 million gallons wasted daily, largely due to broken infrastructure and illegal tapping,” he said.
He explained that the losses stem from decades-old pipelines that have deteriorated over time, as well as unregulated connections in various parts of the country, particularly in urban areas like Accra and Kumasi.
“These losses are not just technical issues; they are a national crisis. Every gallon lost is water that could have served a household, a school, or a hospital,” he stressed.
The situation has worsened the already existing supply gap. In Accra, for instance, daily demand stands at around 220 million gallons, but Ghana Water Limited says it can only deliver 140 million gallons. The result is water shortages for thousands of households.
Beyond the physical losses, Mr. Mutawakilu pointed out that the financial implications are also severe. “We’re treating and pumping water at high cost, only for it to vanish. This affects our operations and the ability to invest in improvements.”
He called for a nationwide effort to address the problem, urging government agencies, local authorities, and communities to collaborate in identifying and reporting illegal connections and leakages.
Mr. Mutawakilu also highlighted the need for major infrastructure investment, modern monitoring systems, and stronger enforcement of utility regulations to stop the losses and improve service delivery.
“If we don’t take urgent action to stop these losses, our ability to meet the water needs of the population will continue to decline, this is not just about infrastructure, it’s about survival,” he warned.
