Weija Dam: GWL says plans are in place to desilt reservoir when necessary

Ghana Water Limited (GWL) maintains that the Weija Dam possesses sufficient capacity to provide water to western Accra year-round, but there are plans to desilt the reservoir as needed. Stanley Martey, Head of Public Relations and Communications at GWL, stated this on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on September 9 while discussing the Weija Dam spillage. Martey was asked about worries over potential siltation of the reservoir and how the company plans to address this issue.

Martey affirmed that the dam's current capacity is adequate for the area it serves, stating, "With the dam for now, I think it is enough to save the western part of Accra throughout the year without any challenge." However, he recognized that siltation is an ongoing concern that must be addressed periodically. "Be that as it may, we still have to desilt when it is silted. And there are plans to do that," Martey said.

The frequency of desilting, according to Martey, is not constant but rather occurs periodically when necessary. He explained, "Beyond some of these rivers, and especially what we do almost every 15, 20 years, there should be some desilting. And which we will do when the time is up." The importance of maintaining the reservoir's water capacity lies in the fact that the stored water is eventually treated for public consumption, as explained by Martey.

He added, "As for desilting of river bodies and dams, especially for what we have, because we have to transfer the treatment and for consumption, we need to ensure that we always have enough water within the reservoir to feed us throughout the year."

Martey concluded by emphasizing that GWL adheres to established procedures to ensure that reservoirs continue to provide sufficient raw water for treatment and supply. "So, Ghana Water Company, we follow our standard operating procedures to ensure that these things are done," he said.