A Hydrogeologist at the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), Mr. Kofi Duku has bemoaned the unruly means employed by some residents in the Central Region to access portable water.
According to him, the Community Water and Sanitation Agency has observed with great apprehension the drilling of boreholes by some residents who lack the needed expertise in embarking on such ventures.
This, he said, raises concern due to the potential threat to water reserves in the region.
Speaking to ATL FM NEWS during the celebration of World Water Day under the theme: “Groundwater, Making the Invisible, Visible”, he said due to the location of the region along the saline belt of the country, accepted procedures must be followed in the drilling of boreholes.
He therefore advised saying “ensure that you take the necessary steps in getting to understand the reasons for a scientific study regarding where to drill the borehole, to what depths it needs to be drilled and even with the construction of the borehole. This is because if care is not taken, with time we will end up messing up the entire reserve that we have because of the haphazard nature of the drilling that is currently going on.”
He also said its appropriate that individuals and organizations that are engaged in activities of drilling boreholes for either domestic or commercial purposes do so with the required scientific background to ensure that, that balance is created.
World Water Day
Water, as an essential commodity to the survival of mankind, cannot be overlooked. In this regard, World Water Day since its inception in 1993 has been annually celebrated with a core focus to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: which is water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Theme
Highlighting this year’s theme, Mr. Duku said it has become necessary for groundwater to be harnessed to avoid the importation of water in the country.
To him, the major challenge facing groundwater is with its harnessing and protection and as such it must be ensured that there is a balance in the drawdown as well as its recharge or recovery.
“There is that school of thought that if we are not careful with how we protect our water resource, we may have to look at the option of importing water in the near future; that is very true and I think its high time we look at every way possible to ensure that the right thing is done,” he opined.
UN Message
Ahead of the world water day celebration, the United Nations (UN) on Monday, March 21, launched the World Water Development Report at the world water forum opening ceremony in Dakar, Senegal.
According to the UN, the report and World Water Day 2022 sets the theme for a range of key events and campaigning activities throughout the year.
Chair of the UN-Water and President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD, Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo explaining the reason for the global focus on groundwater in this year’s World Water Day noted that groundwater serves as the biggest source of liquid freshwater.
“It sustains our drinking water supplies, sanitation systems, farm, industry, and ecosystems but is being overused, polluted, and neglected. In 2022 I look forward to walking together to look after and optimize the use of groundwater while balancing the need of people and nature to harness its full potential, and to use groundwater in the most responsible and sustainable way, it must be thoroughly explored, analyzed and monitored,” he said.
He firmly stated that “for policymakers in the water sector and beyond, groundwater may be out of sight, now we need to ensure it is not out of mind, we must fully integrate it into our action plans.”
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Source: Aba Aikins Appah/ATLFMNEWS
