Illegal miners operating in Bunso and its environs have taken undue advantage of the coronavirus pandemic which seems to have swayed attention of the country, to mine with impunity.
The illegal miners have invaded the Birim River polluting the river with dangerous chemicals in pursuit of gold.
Their activities have affected water production as Management of Ghana Water Company Limited has shut down the Bunso Water Treatment Plant over high turbidity of raw Water Source.
According to the Ghana Water Company limited the ideal raw water turbidity level appropriate to be treated must be less than 3000ntu.
However for instance, as on March 28, 2020, raw water turbidity level was about 9650ntu, the following day, it was around 17140ntu. As at the time of filing this story at about 4:00pm on April 8, 2020, the raw water turbidity was close 8000NTU.
The Bunso Water Treatment Plant pumps raw water from the Birim River to produce about 60,000 gallons of treated water to serve residents in communities such as Bunso, Nsutem, Etukrom, and its environs.
The Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Office of the GWCL, Kwadwo Daase, said Bunso Water Treatment Plant hardly operates 24 hours without being shut down along the line over increase raw water turbidity.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
