Rokel River project still alive

Business

The Ministry of Water Resources in Collaboration with Guma Valley Water Company and SALWACO have said the Rokel River project that is to supply water to Freetown is very much still alive. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, they are to undertake one of the biggest Capital Projects’ aimed at solving the ever growing pipe burn water crisis in the Capital City and its environs. The River Rokel at Massiaka, Koya Chiefdom in the Port loko District is going to serve as the Reservoir/ Source at the Gbere junction which is about 62km from the Capital Freetown. The report from the Water Resources ministry says about 300 acres acquisition of land at the River Rokel is ongoing through the help of the Paramount Chief of Koya Chiefdom Massiaka–Chief Bomboli. The report furthered that the secured land is going to be used for the Construction of a dam, a treatment center and solar field for the supply of an interrupted energy to operate the machines. Key places from Gbere Bridge along the highway via Freetown to benefit from this project are= Massiaka, Mile38, Newton, Waterloo Rural District, Freetown East one, two and three – Dan Street to be precise with a two basement/Tanks at okra hill. The project is expected to create about 1,000 jobs for youths across the villages the pipe will pass.

Water supply in Sierra Leone is characterized by limited access to safe drinking water. Despite efforts by the government and numerous non-governmental organizations, access has not much improved since the end of the Sierra Leone Civil War in 2002, stagnating at about 50% and even declining in rural areas. In Sierra Leone, according to a national survey (Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey) carried out in 2004, 84% of the urban population and 32% of the rural population had access to an improved water source. Those with access in rural areas were served almost exclusively by protected wells. The 68% of the rural population without access to an improved water source relied on surface water (50%), unprotected wells (9%) and unprotected springs (9%). 20% of the urban population and 1% of the rural population had access to piped drinking water in their home. Since national household surveys are not carried out on an annual basis, more recent survey data shows that the situation is getting worse in both areas. Most people rely on rain water during the rainy season and hope and pray that during the dry season the government will help them with bowser to supply them with water.

Fill the forms below to register

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.