Dutch Textile giants, Vlisco, manufacturers of high quality wax prints, have thrown their weight behind the water and sanitation-for-all program of the government of Ghana. 
The company has invested about eight million Ghana cedis or two million Euros in a water treatment plant at its Tema plant, about 38 km east of the capital.
The plant will, by reverse osmosis, recycle the waste water from the manufacturing process to produce about 96 million gallons of water per day for re-use.
The recycling of about 40 percent of the water intake from the Ghana Water Company Ltd (GWCL) will result in more than 40,000 households receiving potable water.
Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), John Pwamang, told Xinhua at the commissioning of the plant that the investment was significant as the textile industry was one of the largest consumers of water among all manufacturers.
He commended the company for taking steps over the years to reduce its dependence on the national water distributor, GWCL, saying “the commissioning of this plant means that a lot more water would be freed for onward distribution to household consumers”.
Pwamang was of the view that, with the application of reverse osmosis, the water to be treated by the textile company would exceed the EPA prescribed standards.
“Their impressive performance in the responsible and environmental friendly manufacturing process is commendable,” he commented.
Hans Ouwendijk, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Vlisco Group, who was in Ghana for the commissioning, said the company placed much value on Ghana.
“This project is yet another evidence of our responsiveness to the country. This plant will not only be beneficial to us as a company but, more importantly, it will provide huge social benefits by making more water available to the community,” Ouwendijk noted.
He pointed out that, with the recycling of the waste water, the volume of environmental pollution caused by the discharge of waste water into the drains had also reduced.
The textile company recently opened its African Retail Coordinating center in Ghana.
Although Ghana is on course to achieve the Millennium Development Goal on water, the government has set a 2015 target to ensure universal water coverage.
However, her sanitation still stands at a paltry 13 percent, forcing the government to institute a National Sanitation Day which falls on the first Saturday of every month.? Enditem
Source:?Xinhua
