The Liberian government submitted information to the World Health Organization and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program that estimated eight percent of households in urban areas have pipe borne water and 88 percent have access to an improved water source. Ironically the nation’s capital has been out of water for a long time, which, coupled with other things led to the resignation of LWSC former boss Nortu Jappah.
Monrovia – The Acting Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Cooperation, Emmett M. Watson says the LWSC has observed the loss of about half a million gallons of water as a result of ongoing test of water supply in Monrovia.
Speaking to journalists at his King Sao Boso Street office director Watson says the test shows that many pipes in the country need repair.
“Most of the pipes are broken. As I speak we have a long list that I’ve just received from the head of technical services requesting pipes and fittings to repair. The line that leads to my house on Duport road got broken yesterday” he says.
The boss of the LWSC puts the blame of breaking pipes on the high pressure of water. He said the situation is reducing the amount of water that should be delivered.
“We are pumping about four point five million gallons a day. If you want to factor the water losses and leakages we can talk about only four million gallons,”Mr. Watson explained.
The Liberian government submitted information to the World Health Organization and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program that estimated eight percent of households in urban areas have pipe borne water and 88 percent have access to an improved water source. Ironically the nation’s capital has been out of water for a long time, which, coupled with other things led to the resignation of LWSC former boss Nortu Jappah.
The LWSC head confirms fears by Silas Siakor, head and founder of the Sustainable Development Institute. In an Interview with New Narratives Mr. Siakor challenged the Joint Monitoring Program report. The reason he said is that long years of war rendered pipes useless because they were made of iron and had corroded.
“If you said to me that by 2015 more than 50% of the population of Monrovia will have pipe borne water, I will question you because I will want to see you putting the infrastructure in place. I will want to see workers day and night digging out the old pipes and replacing them with new ones,” Siakor asserted.
Replacing the old pipes may be a challenge but director Watson is planning to do all in his power to solve the problem. “We will strive to minimize what we call water losses, which is due the fact that we have leaks in the system”.
While director Watson is thinking about fixing pipes, some Liberian are making use of the test.
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Emmett Watson, Acting Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Cooperationsays the LWSC has observed the loss of about half a million gallons of water as a result of ongoing test of water supply in Monrovia.
[/B]This bright morning at the Randal street salt beach people are fetching water from a pump. Fatu Taylor smiles as she asks one of the men to help put the five gallon container on her head.
She no longer gets up at dawn to fetch water, but a broken public pump in her community is still causing Fatu to face problems. The mother of three told FrontPage that since the pump broke her expenses for water has increased.
“We use to buy 15 gallons of for $5 LD. But at the private pump we are buying five gallons for the same amount.”
Fatu says, “The government pump spoiled, the entire head nah move. The time it started coming that day, the water was shooting! Who was having time for these private pump people? “
During water shortage in Monrovia Fatu and her children used to get up as early as 5:00 A.M. to fetch water from a well about ten minutes’ walk away.
“The well use to be parked, plenty people can be there. If you don’t get up soon you will not get water. Fatu recalls.” But the test that they are doing is alright.” First is used to be on and off but since last week its coming good, only our pump spoil that’s all”.
One person making profit out of the broken pipes situation is Bendu Sherrif. This morning she stands looking down at the pump and observes her agent collect money.
“Don’t draw water from over there!” She orders Fatu as she tries opening another pipe to fetch water. “I don’t like it, this water is not for free.” She told fatu. Bendu makes about one thousand Liberian dollars a day from selling water. She doesn’t want the public pump to be restored.
“Who will come here to draw, the water was wasting over there for free. All the people used to go there now they are forced to come here, Says Bendu”. But it appears Bendu’s trade does not have a long lifespan as the Liberia Water and Sewer’s head is planning to bring the situation under control quickly.
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A Monrovia resident who makes his living selling gallons of water pushes a cart full of water for sale.
[/B]Meanwhile the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation and the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to operate a teller window of the LBDI at the LWSC to ease payment burden on customers.
“The customers going to the banks to pay will have to come back there before we can give them receipt. With the LBDI teller window here their accounts will be credited real time,” says Acting Managing Director Emmett Watson.
For his part the Vice President of Head Branches Coordinating Unit at LBDI, T. Edison Clark, Sr. says the signing of the MOU is a necessary to keep financial prudence at the institution.
“We are not saying there was not financial prudence at the institution. We are trying to make it more independent.” Mr. Clark says the window will be monitored to ensure its smooth operation.