Water from Tordze river declared safe, residents urged to treat before usage.

The Volta Regional Coordinating Council has declared water from Tordze as safe for usage after preliminary investigations.

Water from the river was last week declared unsafe for consumption because of fears that it was possibly contaminated by agrochemicals that spilled into the river at Tove, Togo, when a truck carrying agrochemicals was involved in an accident.

Residents in Ho West, Agotime-Ziope, Adaklu, and the adjoining communities were warned not to use water from the river that streams from the Volta River.

But the Volta Regional Coordinating Council in its latest press release, dated 27th February 2025 has declared the water safe for use.

According to the VRCC, the decision was reached following a preliminary sample test conducted collaboratively by relevant state institutions such as the EPA, GSA, FDA, GWCL, Water Resources Commission, Community Water & Sanitation Agency, and Environmental Health Unit of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council.

The sample test according to the VRCC “reveals normal water quality attributes.”

Residents in Ho West, Agotime-Ziope, Adaklu, and the adjoining communities were warned not to use water from the river which streams from the Volta River.

The sample test according to the VRCC “reveals normal water quality attributes.”

Nonetheless, the VRCC is cautioning residents who depend on the river for domestic use to treat before consumption.

“Although preliminary findings regarding the potential effects of suspected contamination in the Tordze and its tributaries on human and aquatic life are negative, we strongly advise the public especially residents and communities that rely on the Tordze to consume only treated water from the river while we await the results of ongoing laboratory investigations,” the VRCC warned.

The statement signed by the Coordinating Director, Augustus Awiti also indicated that there were “no dead or distressed aquatic species and no pungent smells or odor at the various sites visited during the preliminary investigation.”

He further stated that no cases of communicable diseases were reported to any health facilities within the catchment area within the period under investigation which could be attributed to water contamination.

Mr Awiti said the VRCC is also collaborating with its counterparts in Togo to identify the exact spot of the spillage to “collect samples and confirm the chemicals involved.”