Commentary

World Water Day: Prioritize groundwater

By James Gunu, Development Communications Expert

World Water Day is an annual United Nations day observed on 22 March that highlights the importance of fresh water. The day is used to advocate sustainable management of freshwater resources, and other related issues such as water scarcity, pollution, inadequate water supply, lack of sanitation, and the impacts of climate change. The day was first formally proposed in Agenda 21 of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. The 2022 celebration is on the theme: “Groundwater – Making the Invisible Visible”. Groundwater, which hides deep below our feet, is a major source of fresh water and is used for a variety of domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes. Approximately one-third of the world’s population depends on groundwater for drinking.

The theme focuses on topics relevant to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), which is in line with the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6. In 2020, for instance, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an additional focus on handwashing and hygiene. This brought to the fore inequality of access to WASH services and the need to assure the human right to water and sanitation. Non-governmental organizations active in the WASH sector, such as UNICEF, Water Aid and Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), use the day to raise public awareness, get media attention for water issues and inspire action.

The UN World Water Development Report (WWDR) is released each year on World Water Day and the Information provides decision-makers the tools to implement sustainable use of water resources. Water, they say is life! In Ghana and Africa, the role of water in our traditional region and socio-cultural heritage cannot be over-emphasized. It is also instructive to note that groundwater is never an option for some communities in Ghana.

For example, according to the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (GWSA), the most prominent water quality challenges with groundwater supply in the Volta Region is excessive iron and manganese concentration. High total iron concentration of 3.30 mg/L has been observed in some boreholes within the AgotimeZiope, Ho West, Adaklu and North Dayi districts, and Ho Municipality. This makes the cost of providing water facilities for such communities very high. The Agency further observed salinity in some communities along the coast due to sea water intrusion. As a result, boreholes are not a preferred option for water supply for some communities along the coast. This development makes water a difficult commodity for those living in that community. Perhaps this is the reason God has naturally blessed Ghana and the Volta region in particular with the volta lake and other surface water.

Even as we call on the government to build the capacities of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Ghana Water Company Ltd and the District Assemblies to deliver to meet the growing demand for clean water, we urge the people to develop positive attitudes towards our water bodies. Last week, the Water Resources Institute held a workshop for groundwater drillers where the executive secretary of the institute Prof Osei Tweneboana reiterated the need for persons who drill groundwater must use modern technologies to drill the water. He further said if groundwater is given a priority, the water shortages the country experiences especially in the northern part of the country will be totally addressed. This call was timely meaning we can as a country be free of droughts and doing so will ensure food security, poverty alleviation and the overall sustainability of our water bodies and livelihoods.