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Parliament has by a resolution approved a loan of 3.6 million euros from the KBC Bank of Brussels, Belgium, to support the construction and expansion of the Essarkyir Water Supply System in the Central Region.

When completed, the system would guarantee reliable flow of water to un-served communities within the Gomoa Antseadze and the Essarkyir project area.

In its report, the Joint Committees on Finance and Works and Housing, which considered the report, explained that potable water supply for Essarkyir and its surrounding areas was from a package treatment plant which went out of operation in 1980 and thus needed replacement.
Background

The report said upon the breakdown of the package treatment plant, water supply to the area was from the Kwanyako and Baifikrom water treatment plants situated several kilometres north-east and west respectively of the Essarkyir area with several challenges.
It said as a result, the water supply situations in the Essarkyir area faced challenges for most part of the year.

It continued that a water supply master plan for the Central Region prepared, by DHV Consultants of the Netherlands in 2004, recommended the construction of a new treatment plant on the Ochi-Nakwa river in addition to water transmission and distribution pipelines to deliver potable water to the area.

The scope of work to be carried out under the phase two of the project are the construction of 3.1km transmission pipelines from the water treatment plant to Gormandism, the replacement of 9km asbestos concrete transmission pipeline, the construction of additional 11km distribution pipe and the provision of standpipes at Ephesian, Otuam, Mumford, Mbroboto, Kokodo, Immuna, Aboano and Asrafa.
The project completion period for the additional works is estimated to be six months from the commencement date.

The report stated that the asbestos concrete pipes laid over 40 years ago have passed their useful lifespan and as a result pressure from the new water treatment plant will be too severe for the old pipes to hold.

Further, the distribution pipelines from the reservoir to some of the beneficiary communities were not considered under the original project and there was, therefore, the need to embark on a phase two of the project to guarantee reliable flow of water to un-served communities within the Antseadze and Essarkyir project area.

The new transmission pipelines would increase coverage in the project area which would in turn improve access to potable water and also reduce the level of non-revenue water. It was further indicated that the implementation of the phase two of the project would cause growth in productivity of the inhabitants, leading to economic development and the reduction in poverty.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive are expected to brief the committee on the recent demolition exercise at Old Fadama (Sodom and Gomorrah) tomorrow.