As part of its mission to provide reliable and affordable water supply and sanitation services in a cost effective and environmentally sustainable manner to the satisfaction of customers, the Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) in Kenema has restored water supply for residents of Kenema and environs.
It could be recalled that there was a breakage in the supply of water in the township for some time, but through the proactive and result-driven urge of the SALWACO Board, Management and staff, safe drinking water is now restored in Kenema. It was against this backdrop that SALWACO’S Stakeholder and Media Relations Manager, Mrs. Mary Mansaray Ngegba and the institution’s Senior Communications Officer, Sheku Putka Kamara visited Kenema on Tuesday 4th April, 2023 to hold radio talk shows and conduct interviews with stakeholders and residents about the improved water situation in the city and ways of maintaining the rehabilitated facilities.
In one of the radio discussion programmes held at the Nyapui Radio FM 106.1 at the Reservation Road, Kenema, Putka hosted/moderated a discussion programme and had Mrs. Mary Mansaray Ngegba and the Regional Human Resource and Admin Manager – SALWACO East, Mr. Braima Allieu as studio guests. The two SALWACO managers expressed how the restoration of water for the people of Kenema was a laudable venture, noting that it was now the responsibility of all and sundry to monitor and ensure that the facilities are protected.
Mr. Allieu said that Kenema now has a brand-new intake pump for the provision of sustainable water of quality. He said that thunder and lightening destroyed the earlier facility, but noted that SALWACO has now procured three additional pumps to further salvage the situation. Mr. Allieu said that the SALWACO team in Kenema with support from the MD and team has been able to fix the water situation in Kenema and called on people to take ownership of the facilities. He said that the institution prioritizes the needs and wants of customers, adding that when water was not running, management had to devise a mechanism of using bowsers to sell water to residents at a very minimal rate (50 cents per bata). He went on to say that continuous human activities (stone mining, charcoal burning, gold mining and the rampant cutting down of trees) in the Kambui Hills hosting the catchment weirs for the gravity source have however been disrupting SALWACO activities over the years and urged that such acts are minimized if not eradicated. He said that government should equally aid in making such an aspiration a reality.
Mrs. Mary Mansaray Ngegba extended greetings to the people of Kenema on behalf of the SALWACO Board and Chairman, Ing. M.A Jalloh and the Managing Director of SALWACO Ing. George Lamin Vandi and the rest of the management and staff of the institution. She said that women and girls were the ones that were mostly in need of clean water and were mostly hard hit in times of scarcity thereby urging the Kenema residents to make judicious usage of the opportunity. “Girls and women face the brunt of it in times of scarcity since they will have travel to far distances to fetch water, reducing school time and also exposing them to harassment and danger.” She underscored how water is life and stated that the SALWACO organization will continue to do everything within its powers to see that safe and clean water is provided to people.
Regional Manager, SALWACO East, Ing Lansana Ba Sawi stated that water supply has been restored for over a week now and that most customers have started receiving normal pipe borne water supply. ‘Though we still have challenges due to the ongoing road construction that have severely damaged our network Installations. Also, our pipes are damaged due to illegal constructions on the rights of way (ROW) where our pipes are installed. As a result, some customers are still deprived,’ he said. On maintaining the SALWACO facilities, Ing Sawi said that his institution will continue to work with the road contractors to minimize damage and also do a quick fix to damages that are less severe plus to collaborate with SLRA, Consultant and Ministry of Finance for provision of funds to reinstate all damaged network Installations as quickly as possible. ‘Constant engagement with community elders, other stakeholders and media groups on all aspects in water and sanitation regarding safety, importance, protection, payment, storage etc., Setting up of effective and efficient maintenance system for quick response to all maintenance requirement are also very necessary,’ he said.
Earlier, the Managing Director of SALWACO, Ing. George Lamin Vandi had said that it is good news for SALWACO to have restored water supply in Kenema. He said that the focus is to now maintain the facility and to work in line with President Bio’s vision and mission in the water sector.
Resident Minister East, Hon. Rtd. Brigadier Kes Boyah spoke on behalf of government and said that the water situation in Kenema is now on a positive note, adding that he was currently getting positive feedbacks from people.
Mayor of the Kenema Municipality, His Lordship, Thomas Karimu Dandabla Tagbateh Baio hipped praises on the SALWACO management regarding the restoration and government by extension. He added that people now have a responsibility to make sure that the facilities are protected, noting that he had been a focal point on behalf of SALWACO in that regard.
Station Manager SALWACO, Kenema, Ing. Mohamed Yayah Sesay thanked the Water Resources Ministry and the SALWACO management for restoring water in Kenema after what he described as the unfortunate situation that put so much pressure on him as the direct contact.
The two-day engagement by the SALWACO Communications Team in Kenema captured how residents appreciate the water restoration, but that there was need to connect other areas that were yet to benefit from the restoration. The SALWACO Team on the ground said that there is need for effective collaboration with other actors plus for people not to intentionally destroy SALWACO properties and equipment. Similar engagements will continue to take place as SALWACO is poised to continue to provide safe drinking water in all its jurisdictions across the country.
Credit: Communications Unit, Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO)
