PURC seeks safeguards for utility lines amid construction

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has announced plans to collaborate with road contractors and utility service providers to address the increasing damage to water and other utility infrastructure during road construction. This comes as government efforts to expand road networks under the Big Push programme have led to more instances of pipelines and other critical facilities being interfered with in various parts of the nation.

Dr Shafic Suleman, PURC Executive Secretary, made this disclosure during a media engagement in the Western Region. He emphasized that the Commission will work with the Ministry of Roads and Highways, contractors, and utility providers to implement a more proactive approach to safeguarding essential infrastructure. One key requirement will be utility companies providing maps of major transmission and distribution lines and pipelines to contractors, enabling them to guide their construction activities accordingly.

Contractors found damaging critical utility infrastructure despite having access to relevant information could be held responsible for restoring services, according to Dr Suleman. The PURC aims to create a platform for affected utility companies to repair services while ensuring that the responsible contractor bears the cost of the repairs.

Consumers whose water or electricity supply is disrupted by construction activities are encouraged to report such incidents to the Commission, which has already received and resolved several complaints while maintaining communication with the Ministry of Roads and Highways regarding contractor responsibilities.

The PURC delegation recently visited the Daboase Water Treatment Plant, currently undergoing a €70-million expansion project expected to significantly boost water production for the Sekondi-Takoradi area and surrounding communities. The new facility boasts a design capacity of 100,000 cubic meters of water per day, equivalent to approximately 22 million gallons daily.

Dr Suleman noted that the completion of the new plant could greatly enhance water supply in Takoradi and Sekondi, although challenges persist concerning transmission pipelines. Ghana Water has assured that the pipeline connecting the Daboase plant to the twin cities will also be expanded as part of the project's second phase, which will include an additional treatment plant and pipeline expansion.

However, Dr Suleman cautioned that improvements in treatment capacity alone would not resolve the region's water challenges if illegal mining continues to contaminate raw water sources. The PURC has previously identified siltation from construction and galamsey activities as major factors affecting water supply in the Western Region.