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Do not Waste Water because Government is Paying for it


Wasting water in this turbulent period will obstruct government's attempt to control the deadly virus through handwashing. Failure to conserve water will expose vulnerable groups to the virus because of poor hand hygiene and overwhelm our dedicated health care providers.


In a late-night coronavirus address on Sunday, 5th of April 2020, the president of Ghana, Nana Akuffo-Addo announced a three-month water tariff waiver for all Ghanaians starting April 2020. This does not call for mismanagement of drinking water—water abstracted, treated with expensive chemicals and pumped with electricity—to our homes by the gasping Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).

According to the national water policy, it is the fundamental right of every Ghanaian to have adequate supply of clean water to maintain good health and well-being. In daring times against Coronavirus (COVID-19), a pandemic that has claimed more than 69480 lives globally, Ghanaians must embrace water saving strategies to optimize municipal water supply from GWCL. Households should yearn to reduce daily water consumption. In this way, water-stressed communities will have access to consistent water supply to contain COVID-19 through frequent handwashing.


Ghana Water Company Limited supplies drinking water for domestic use at a regular rate of GHS 5.48 per thousand litres of water consumed; a subsidized rate most Ghanaians take for granted. The average Ghanaian requires about 100 litres of water daily to meet basic needs and stay healthy. The compelling fact is that, the rate of water consumption increases with growth in economic status and the number of dependents in a community.


For instance, affluent citizens in Ghana use more water in their homes than the impoverished who do not have lawns to water, cars to wash or automatic washing machines to wash clothes and dishes. It will take strategic due diligence on the part of GWCL to ensure the disabled, poor and vulnerable members of society are not left behind in the fight against coronavirus.


By simple calculations; GWCL shall provide 9000 litres (in ninety days) of water to individuals with access to municipal water supply at no cost for three months. This translates into GHS 50.80 savings to beneficiaries from April to June 2020. Cumulatively, a family of four will save two hundred and three Ghana cedis, twenty pesewas (GHS 203.2) if they use water wisely. In order to keep the natural water cycle and the water supply chain in equilibrium at this crucial moment, every Ghanaian must pledge to use less than 100 litres of water daily to ease the burden on GWCL.


Are you willing to reduce your daily water consumption to promote frequent handwashing in water-stressed communities? Just follow these 10 tricks to help contain the spread of COVID-19 in Ghana.

  1. Reduce shower time. Limiting shower time to 5 minutes or less will help save water for future use. If you feel dull in a lockdown, using a bucket to washdown will reduce water use and flex your muscles.

  2. Inspect pipelines, faucets and storage tanks for leakages and fix immediately. Install low flow taps to minimize waste.

  3. Put a plastic bottle in your toilet tank to reduce volume of water per flush.

  4. Stop using your toilet as a wastebasket. This will prevent clogging and save water for handwashing.

  5. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. Mother earth will bless you with more life if you use a hygienic cup instead!

  6. Use your automatic dishwasher and washing machine only when load is full.Think about people without drinking water.

  7. Do well to harvest rainwater when there is a downpour. This reduces surface runoff and flooding. It’s a sin to flush the toilet with drinking water!

  8. Flush your toilet with laundry wastewater. Always ensure there are no debris present.

  9. Do not flush the toilet bowl when it’s yellow! Only empty the tank when it’s BROWN!

  10. Don’t forget why saving water is important this moment. Always remember to wash your hands with soap under running to protect yourself and family from the lethal coronavirus.

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