The Water Resources Commission is warning individuals to desist from drilling boreholes, even in their homes, without permission.
It said persons who do not adhere to the instructions risk sanctions.
According to the Commission, although groundwater is easily accessible, it is a resource entrusted to the government and therefore cannot be drilled without seeking the necessary permits.
“Just like gold, even if you are sitting in an area and there is gold under your ground, it is not yours. All these resources are vested in the government and the government has an agency that oversees all these things. All the wealth of the country is under the ground, whether it is oil, water, or minerals, they all belong to the government, so the government has set up the Water Resources Commission to take care of this. When you want to take water from the river or sea or wherever to use it, the Commission needs to know who is taking it. How much it is, is it for commercial purposes or domestic use,” said the head of Groundwater Division at CSIR- Water Research Institute, Dr. Anthony Duah, at the celebration of World Water Day in Accra.
He said drilling boreholes without the necessary permits is illegal.
Meanwhile, the Head of Planning at the Water Resources Commission, Dr. Bob Alfa, said that illegal drilling sometimes results in sewage liquids leaking into the drilled boreholes, which ultimately causes water pollution.
In 2020, a study conducted on wells and boreholes in Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region revealed that the majority of boreholes had been contaminated with fecal matter.
Dr. Bob Alfa further indicated that individuals and companies that are caught in compromising roles in illegal water drilling will face sanctions.
