Samuel Bangura and Minister Maligi, during a pre-commissioning ceremony earlier in Makeni
By Prince Musa in Kenema
The Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) has pre-commissioned the Kenema leg of the ‘Three Town Water Supply’ project.
The project involves the construction of pipe-borne water in the three major provincial districts of Kenema, Bo, and Makeni. Salwaco, which is responsible for providing water to the rest of the country outside Freetown, is implementing this project with financial support from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), and the Government of Sierra Leone.
George Penyikie, Provincial Secretary East, who chaired last week end’s pre-commissioning ceremony, remarked that the project was sure to help improve the lives of citizens in that part of the country. He stated that the expansion of Kenema City had increased the demand for water, and he therefore expressed appreciation to government for its “timely intervention.”
For his part, Dr. Sillah Bangura, Policy Adviser on Water Resources and Infrastructure at State House, urged the people of Kenema to take the project with all seriousness, noting that the sustainability of the facility was in their hands. To this end, he called on the local stakeholders to put adequate mechanisms in place for expansion and sustainable development. Dr. Bangura said the new water facility provided by SAWACO would help to prevent many water burn diseases.
In his statement, the chairman, board of directors of SALWACO, Robin Fallay, said for quite a long the people of Kenema had been crying for improved water system and noted that the Three Town Water Supply project was a response to their cry.
The pre-commissioning is basically testing of the pumps to ensure they are functioning, ahead of the official commissioning. It is also meant to clean up the pipes. Residents were therefore warned against consuming the water in its present form.
The facility was designed to pump water from the River Moa at Tiloma in the outskirt of Kenema City, where the treatment plant is located, and transmitted to the reservoir which is about 350 metre high, located around Kamara Town.
According to officials, the reservoir can hold over one million gallons of water for public consumption.
Samuel Bangura, Director General of SALWACO, referred to the pre-commissioning ceremony as a moment of joy for the achievement of his vision in providing safe drinking water for the people of Kenema. Bangura commended the donor partners, the government of Sierra Leone and the local authorities in Kenema for their support since the commencement of the project. He however warned that the water will not be free of cost. He noted that there is going to be payment in order to ensure sustainability, maintenance and payment of staff salary for running of the facility.
He assured the people though that SALWACO was committed to meeting international standard in terms of providing quality drinking water for the country.
Momodu Maligi, minister of Water Resources, said the transformation of SALWACO management has increased the potential for development and recognition for proper service delivery in the water sector of the country. Maligi noted that the era of politics was over and that it’s time to focus on national development. He also assured that the other communities where pipes have not been fixed for connection will be considered.
© Politico 27/07/16
