Ghana Water Limited has honored seven institutions and individuals in the Western Region for consistently paying their water bills on time, highlighting the role of customer revenue in sustaining water treatment and distribution.
The recognized customers include the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority, Palms by Eagles, Grand Favor Hotel, Zeal Environmental Services Limited, Carmeuse Lime, Gerrim Kissimmee Company Limited and Amponsah Felix, an individual customer.
The initiative is intended to appreciate responsible customers and encourage households, companies and public institutions to settle their bills promptly.
Western Regional Chief Manager of Ghana Water Limited, Ing. Richard Esuon, led a team of officials to visit the awardees and present plaques in recognition of their contribution to the company’s operations.
Timely Payments Support Water Production
Ing. Esuon explained that revenue from water bills enables the company to purchase treatment chemicals, pay electricity expenses and keep its plants and pumping systems operational.
He said the cost of producing and distributing potable water continues even when customers delay or fail to settle their bills.
“The prompt payment of their bills goes far and wide in supporting us to get all the needed chemicals and payment of our electricity bills to ensure that constantly, potable water is produced and pumped to the customers,” he said.
He added that the recognition was intended to encourage other customers to support the company by paying their bills within the required period.
According to him, improved payment compliance would strengthen Ghana Water’s ability to maintain production and provide reliable services to communities.
Seven Customers Honored
The institutions and individuals recognized operate in different sectors of the Western Region’s economy.
The Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority was honored alongside hospitality businesses, environmental and industrial companies and an individual customer.
Ghana Water said their consistent payment records demonstrated the contribution customers could make towards the sustainability of public water services.
The company hopes the initiative will encourage other major consumers to regularize outstanding accounts and avoid delays in settling future bills.
Read Also: DStv Rolls Out More Affordable Packages from November 5
It also wants households to understand that every payment contributes to the continued operation of treatment plants and distribution infrastructure.
Unpaid Bills Could Affect Water Supply
Ghana Water warned that persistent delays and non-payment could weaken its financial capacity to treat and distribute adequate quantities of water.
The company must continuously pay for chemicals, electricity, equipment maintenance, pipeline repairs and other operational requirements.
When customers consume treated water without paying on time, the company is still required to meet those expenses.
Ing. Esuon said prolonged revenue shortfalls could eventually affect water production and reduce the quantity available to consumers.
He maintained that prompt payment was therefore essential to protecting the reliability of water supply across the region.
Firefighting Operations Could Also Be Affected
The Regional Chief Manager further warned that the consequences of inadequate revenue could extend beyond domestic and commercial water supply.
He said Ghana Water must treat and pump water to strategic locations where the Ghana National Fire Service can access it during emergencies.
“A time is coming, if customers do not pay their bills for us to get money to buy the chemicals and pay our electricity bills, treat the water and bring the water to vantage points where the Fire Service can get it into their tenders, we will not be able to fight fire outbreaks when they occur,” he said.
His warning highlights the wider public-safety importance of maintaining adequate water production and distribution.
Water used for firefighting depends on the same treatment, pumping and distribution infrastructure serving households and businesses.
Illegal Mining Raises Treatment Costs
Ghana Water’s financial pressures are being worsened by pollution associated with illegal mining activities.
The company continues to experience high raw-water turbidity in parts of the Western Region, increasing the amount of treatment required before water can be supplied safely to the public.
Polluted raw water requires additional chemicals and more intensive processing, raising the cost of production.
Ghana Water says revenue losses from delayed and unpaid bills make it more difficult to absorb these rising treatment costs.
The combination of raw-water pollution and weak payment compliance could consequently place further strain on water-production facilities.
Two Journalists Recognized
Ghana Water also honored two journalists for supporting public education and raising awareness about water supply challenges in the Western Region.
They were Akwasi Agyei Annim, Western Bureau Chief of Channel One TV News, and Paa Kwesi Simpson of Connect FM.
The company said media reporting had helped explain the difficulties affecting water treatment and distribution while improving public understanding of its operations.
The journalists were also recognized for drawing attention to issues such as raw-water pollution, illegal mining and supply interruptions.
Ghana Water believes stronger collaboration with the media can help customers understand the relationship between bill payments, treatment costs and reliable water supply.
Corporate Customers Seek Better Communication
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, General Manager of Palms by Eagles, Panyin Dickson, thanked Ghana Water for the recognition.
He urged the company to maintain effective communication with corporate customers, particularly when operational challenges affect supply.
Timely communication, he said, would allow businesses to understand interruptions, make alternative arrangements and cooperate with the utility while problems are being addressed.
Improved engagement could also reduce misunderstandings and strengthen the relationship between Ghana Water and its major customers.
Customers Encouraged to Pay Promptly
Ghana Water has appealed to all customers to settle their bills on time and engage the company where they have concerns about their accounts.
The company said allowing arrears to accumulate reduces the revenue available for treatment chemicals, electricity, maintenance and distribution.
It believes stronger payment compliance, combined with effective public education and improved communication, will support more reliable water services in the Western Region.
The recognition initiative is expected to continue promoting responsible payment while highlighting customers whose contributions help keep water-treatment and distribution systems operational.
