GWCL to pilot new water treatment technology

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) is considering the use of a cheaper and safer method of chlorination in the water treatment process to reduce production cost and water tariffs.

The new technology under consideration is known as “on site Electro chlorination, (OSEC) and it uses water and salt to produce sodium hypochlorite, which has been described as a cheaper and safer water disinfectant.

According to the GWCL, the current use of chlorine gas, which is imported from China and India, is making operational cost increasingly expensive and the company spends GH¢4.5 million annually to import the chlorine gas alone.

Briefing the media on the new technology in Accra yesterday, the local engineer of Evoqua Water Technologies, the international company proposing OSEC, Mr Michael Amoako, said stakeholders were expecting a drastic reduction in the cost of chlorination with the use of the  new technology as a result of its estimated benefits.Cheaper and eco-friendly

Mr Amoako explained that the production of the sodium hypochlorite was not only cheaper but also ecofriendly.

When approved, he added, the new technology would replace the use of chlorine gas, which has been referred to as a highly toxic and corrosive disinfectant in water treatment.

Mr Amoako further stated that OSEC would reduce the cost of water production because the technology would use locally manufactured salt to produce the sodium hypochlorite. “The use of salt will boost the local salt industry because they will be contracted to produce salt to the specifications required by the technology.

“OSEC will mean that the GWCL will not have to convert huge sums of Ghana Cedis into dollars to import chlorine gas and its attendant technology required for chlorination anymore,” he stated.

Pilot

The technology has been accepted by the GWCL to be piloted in three treatment plants, including the Weija and Kpong treatment plants to substantiate its projected benefits.

Mr Amoako said stakeholders were waiting for approval by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to start the six-month pilot project.

“If the technology produces the desired outcome, the GWCL will replicate it nationwide,” he said.

He stated that to ensure a good maintenance culture, two local engineers from the GWCL would be sponsored to Germany to build their capacity on maintaining the machines for the technology to become trainers of trainers.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the GWCL, Dr Clifford A. Braimah, said the initiative formed part of the company’s effort to serve the customers better.

He said a number of reforms were being undertaken to enhance the quality of service and water delivered to customers.

Dr Braimah said the company would not compromise on international and local standards for water production.