GWL Shuts Down Agordome Water Treatment Plant Over Poor Water Quality
The Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has temporarily halted operations at the Agordome Water Treatment Plant in the southern Volta Region due to a sharp decline in the quality of raw water drawn from the Volta River. The decision, which has disrupted water supply to several communities, was taken after tests showed turbidity levels far above acceptable standards for potable water.
The Agordome plant serves more than 700,000 residents in Sogakope, Sokpoe, Tefle, Dabala, Anloga, Keta, and nearby areas. However, the recent deterioration in raw water quality has made it impossible for the facility to maintain safe operations.
Volta Regional Chief Manager of Ghana Water Limited, Emmanuel A. Johnson, confirmed the shutdown in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Ho. “The turbidity has seriously disrupted our operations at the plant,” he said, explaining that the phenomenon typically occurs during the rainy season. “The plant was not designed to handle such highly turbid raw water.”
Mr. Johnson revealed that the Agordome facility lacks essential treatment systems such as a coagulant dosing mechanism, sedimentation tanks, and clarifiers, which are critical for filtering out suspended particles from muddy or contaminated water sources.
As of October 15, measurements showed raw water turbidity at 39.4 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU), while the treated water recorded 29.4 NTU—far above the Ghana Standards Authority’s maximum limit of 5 NTU for potable water. He noted that this compelled authorities to shut down the plant at 11:00 a.m. on October 15 to prevent the distribution of unsafe water.
“The situation is being closely monitored, and operations will resume once the water quality improves,” Mr. Johnson assured, adding that efforts are underway to supply water through tankers to critical institutions such as schools and hospitals.
When pressed about contingency plans in case the situation persists, Mr. Johnson declined to comment, stating only that officials were optimistic the water quality would improve soon.
A Daily Graphic team that toured the affected areas observed residents in Sogakope and its environs resorting to buying water from tricycle vendors. However, health officers warned that much of this water was being fetched directly from the same contaminated river. “It is the same dirty water they sell to households,” a health worker in Sogakope lamented.
Residents and local authorities are calling for urgent and long-term solutions to the recurring crisis, including upgrading the Agordome plant with modern treatment components and exploring alternative water sources. They argue that the facility’s vulnerability during the rainy season underscores the need for major infrastructure investment and consistent maintenance.
The shutdown has reignited broader concerns about Ghana’s water security, especially in regions affected by pollution, illegal mining, and climate-related disruptions. Stakeholders have urged the government and Ghana Water Limited to prioritize sustainable measures to ensure consistent access to clean and safe water for affected communities.
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