Ghana Water Limited shuts Owabi treatment plant over high sedimentation

Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has announced the emergency shutdown of the Owabi Water Treatment Plant in the Ashanti Region, effective 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 12, 2026. This temporary measure follows heavy rainfall that led to an influx of significant sediment into the plant’s raw water source, making immediate treatment and distribution difficult. The utility provider noted that the shutdown is essential to facilitate a comprehensive cleaning exercise and protect the quality of water supplied to customers, ensuring all safety standards are met before distribution resumes.

The disruption is expected to affect several communities within the Abuakwa District and its environs for the duration of the cleaning exercise. Specifically, residents in Tanoso, Asuoyeboah, Akropong, and surrounding neighborhoods will experience a total halt or significant reduction in water supply. GWL officials explained that the high levels of sedimentation caused by the rains contaminated the source water beyond the immediate processing capacity of the plant's filtration systems, necessitating the closure to prevent long-term damage to the infrastructure.

Work is currently underway to clear the build-up, with the cleaning process scheduled for completion by Friday, November 13, 2026. Following the maintenance exercise, GWL intends to begin a gradual restoration of service as the system stabilizes and water quality returns to acceptable parameters. The management of GWL has apologized to the public for the inconvenience caused by this weather-related event and has requested patience from affected consumers while technical teams work to restore the water supply.