By Samuel Ballah Kumara
Following recent pre-commissioning of water supply facilities in Kenema, Bo and Makeni by the Three Town Water Supply and Sanitation project, under the supervision of the Director General, Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO), Mr Samuel Bangura, the company has replicated a similar facility in Kabala, Musaia and Dogolia in Koinadugu district.
The return of water supply to the district, after over two and half decades, formed part of government’s move to reach communities nationwide with safe drinking water. The event marked a significant milestone in the development of Koinadugu. It attracted paramount chiefs, council chairman, development partners and SALWACO staffers.
The project scope ranges from the construction of the raw water intake tank from the Mongo River in Musaia village, the reservoirs, water treatment tank, civil and electro-mechanical works; clearing of the water pumping station. It also includes a transmission line of (500mm ductile pipe – 2km long), service reservoir for Musaia and two reservoirs for Kabala.
Its first phase cost USD4m, for the construction of the 2,500 cubic meters service reservoir with a distribution network jointly sourced by the Government of Sierra Leone, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), whiles the second phase received USD12m support from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for the construction of a raw water intake tank with a transmission pipeline from Musaia, to Kabala. The facility serves 80,000 people including 16,000 beneficiaries between Musaia, Dogolia and Kabala.
Addressing beneficiaries at the pre-commissioning, Director General Mr Samuel Bangura thanked President Koroma for his relentless efforts in the provision of water supply to communities across the country. He assured the district of regular water supply, saying that the two reservoirs have the capacities of storing and supplying over five million liters of water each to Kabala. Mr Bangura said the second phase is being sourced from the Mongo River in Musaia, 21 kilometers to Kabala.
The Coordinator, Three Town Water Supply and Sanitation project, Dr Joe Ben Davies said SALWACO is taking water to unreached communities.
He said water services management with the necessary infrastructure, well in placed has earned SALWACO sound recognition since its inception. Dr Davies disclosed plans by the company to introduce the sale of affordable and pure drinking water to the public, adding that private homes, factories and manufacturing industries will have to comply through their bills per consumption.
Dr Davies said SALWACO commence a nationwide civic engagement and consultations with stakeholders through the appropriate channels, to agree with the public on something affordable be paid as a utility bill for water services. He said water supplies to Bo, Kenema and Makeni have been doubled.
Freetown Post 