NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR WSP IMPLEMENTATION IN GHANA. Nii Okai Kotei Director, Water Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, Accra, GHANA IWA Africa Region Water Safety Plan Workshop: Nairobi 24 – 26, May 2011

PRESENTATION OUTLINE  Country Background  Sector Institutional Setup  Regulatory Framework  Challenges  Way Forward

GHANA MAPAFRICA MAP Ashanti 40% Upper West Upper East Norther n Brong Ahafo Greater Accra Eastern Western Centra l Volta

Urban Water Supply (GWCL) Communities/ Consumers of Services National Regional District Institutional Setup: Ghana Water & Sanitation Sectors Rural and Small Town Water and Sanitation (CWSA) Regional Sanitation and Hygiene Subsector Coordination (Regional EHSU) Ministry of Local Government, Rural Dev and Environment: EHSD => National Sanitation Sub-Sector Coordination Regional (CWSA)Regional(GWCL District UWS Subsector Coordination (GWCL Community District Assemblies Ministry of Local Government, Rural Dev and Environment: EHSD National Sanitation Sub-Secto r Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing: WATER DIRECTORATE : Overall Sector Coordination REGULATORS  PURC Economic/ Quality of service  WRC Water Resources Managements  EPA Environmental  GSB Standardization  MOH Public Health

PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY COMMISSION(PURC) Independent regulatory institution  Established by an Act of Parliament (Act 538)  To regulate and oversee the provision of utility services(WATER, ELECTRICITY & Natural Gas Established as the result Reforms in the Sector

SECTOR CHALLENGES  In sufficient Political Prioritization  Poor Targeting  Weak Sector Capacity  In adequate investments

WATER SECTOR REFORMS Goals of Sector Reform  Increase access to water to all sectors of the economy  Ensure efficiency in delivery of water to consumers  Enhance the management and accountability of the public utilities  Promote private sector participation  Ensure an effective regulatory environment

URBAN WATER SUPPLIES IN GHANA GWCL is to provide potable water to its supply area in which about 50% of the people in the country live, in addition to supply potable water for all public, commercial and industrial consumption. GWCL operates 85 pipe-borne systems with total installed capacity of about 760,000m3/day. URBAN WATER SUPPLIES IN GHANA

PREVIOUS SITUATION  Drinking water quality standards prepared by Ghana Standards Board  Self-monitoring by GWCL with PURC audit  Significant value in establishing drinking water safety plans, involving all involved from catchment to tap, so pilot project  The Weija supply system chosen because – It is a major supply to Accra – There are problems of algae in source water – Some areas have intermittent supplies

THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK  Given many other priorities in the water sector and the resource constraints in the country as a whole  Regulation of compliance is to use the Audit approach

NEW APPROACH: WATER SAFETY PLAN  Getting the needed commitment of all stakeholders in the management of drinking water quality  Formalizing long established methods and building on scientific and managerial developments

WEIJA AS A PILOT

PREPARING WSP  A team is set-up covering source/resource to tap  The team identifies the hazards in the catchment, at the treatment works, in the distribution system and on consumers premises  For each one – Consideration of the likelihood and consequences for water safety  Review of current controls – Are they effective? How well are they monitored?  Determination of the required improvements  Implementation of the plans and their audit

ASSOCIATED SUGGESTED ACTION  The clean-up of the catchment to prevent the formation of algae  Improved supply situation regarding chlorine  Active leakage control  Implementation of Private Tanker Service Guidelines  Public communication programme

ROLL UP OF WSP  Initiate the development of WSP’s for eleven (11) out of eighty- five (85) water systems.  Basin Officers being strengthen for the catchment management issues.

FACILITIES FOR ROLL UP  National Water Policy  Legislation  Benchmarking  Education and Awareness creation

FACILITIES FOR ROLL UP  National Water Policy  Legislation  Benchmarking  Education and Awareness creation

WATER SAFETY PLANS  PURC WILL:  Promote best practices in achieving for end consumers water quality which is safe for drinking.  Promote consumer awareness of water quality and hygiene.  Support other water quality and health education initiatives.

WAY FORWARD  Sanitation and water is a priority sector and underlies achievement of the MDGs.  The sector requires political prioritization, institutional capacity building & investment.  One national plan & planning process. Active collaboration with all stallholders.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION