By Jariatu S. Bangura
Minister of Water Resources, Ing. Philip K. Lansana and team,have concluded a 3-days site visit to the Guma Valley Water Company’s outstations and project sites geared towards improving water supply in the Western Area in the short to medium term (2023 -2035).
The visit by the Minister and team was to interact with staff of the company as well as to assess progress on several ongoing water supply projects which includes the construction site of 9 new Raw Water Storage Reservoirs at Babadorie – Regent, Rehabilitation of Existing Babadorie Raw Water Reservoir ( Regent), Kingtom District Metering Area, Angola Town Water Supply Project, Mambo/Hamilton and Waterloo Gravity Water Supply Systems respectively funded by the government of Sierra Leone and the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development.
The construction of the nine new raw water storage reservoirs at the Babadorie facility at Regent, each with a storage capacity ranging between 6 million liters and 7.5 million liters; and the rehabilitation of the existing raw water storage reservoir will see its capacity increase from 60 million liters to 75 million liters.
Both projects are expected to be completed in November 2023 and May 2023 respectively and will greatly improve water supply to Regent, Leicester, Gloucester, IMATT, Hill Station and Malama communities all year round.
The Angola Town Water Supply project consists of intake weir system, raw water transmission system, treatment Plant, Clear water storage system, Treated water transmission system, and Clear Water distribution that will pass through Angola Town, Adonkia, Ogoo Farm, Lakka and Hamilton communities. The project is expected to be completed in November 2023 and the beneficiary communities will have uninterrupted water supply.
The Mambo/Hamilton and Waterloo Gravity Water Supply Systems Projects comprises the construction of weirs at Mambo and Gbogboyema (Waterloo), treatment and storage facilities, pipe distribution networks and installation of 50 water kiosks (20 at Mambo, 5 at Hamilton and 25 at Waterloo).
According to the Minister, the government’s strategic actions towards increasing access to improved water supply and sanitation services in the greater Freetown includes the implementation of the Freetown Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan and Investment Studies that was launched by the Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh at the New Brookfields Hotel on 8th December, 2022 and the Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project (WASHAERP) under which the construction of 9 new Raw Water Storage Reservoir.
He expressed satisfaction over the progress made so far at all the projects sites he visited and urged the contractors to complete their works according to the project timelines. He assured them of his continued support and cooperation.
“It is estimated that Sierra Leone stands to derive 15% of her Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from reaching universal access to water and sanitation. Therefore, the Government is very passionate about the sector and is taking tangible actions to transform it”, he added.
Ing. Lansana explained that the government’s New Direction Agenda for national development is built on eight strategic drivers including water and sanitation therefore noting that the government is keen on increasing access to improved water supply, sanitation services and hygiene across the country.
