The Board of Directors, Guma Valley Water Company on Wednesday, June 8, 2002 undertook an extensive inspection of the project sites of the Freetown Water Supply Rehabilitation Project at the Mile 13 Dam and Treatment Plant, and new pipe line works ongoing from Mile 13 to Hamilton.
The aim of the inspection tour is to monitor the progress made so far on the different works ongoing under the project which is sponsored by UKAid.
Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors, the Chairman Technical Committee, Ing. Alhaji Mohamed Timbo said they are satisfied with the progress made by the project which is aimed at rehabilitation and replacement of major infrastructural components at the Guma Dam, Treatment Plant, laying of 3.2km of new pipe line from Mile 13 to Hamilton and replacement of pumps and fittings at the Spur Road Reservoir.
Ing. Timbo said the replacement of the Gate and Scour Valves at the Guma Dam recently was a big achievement in the project’s milestone.
The Board Technical Committee Chairman added that they are also monitoring progress on the project because they want to see increased access to sustainable and safe water supply for the people of Freetown.
In her statement, the Chairman of the Human Resources Committee, Hon. Safula Moijueh said critical spare parts should be provided by the sponsor to maintain and sustain the running of the Dam and Treatment Plant after the completion of the project.
Wayne O’Donnell, General Foreman of BAM, said sustainability is key to the aim of the project. “On sustainability, we are integrating; that is why about 350 of our staff are men and women from Sierra Leone. 20% of our workforce are women – Engineers, Welders, Mechanics, Plant and Machine Operators”.
Mr. O’Donnell said the project have been sending locals to the United Kingdom for training so that they will be able to carry on the works after the expatriates would have left.
The rehabilitation project will increase sustainable access to water supply in Freetown, with the expected impact being a reduction of morbidity and mortality rates associated with incidences of diarrhea, typhoid and other water-borne diseases.
The Freetown Water Supply Rehabilitation project has already achieved the following milestones:
•Fixed the water ingress to the Intake tower;
•Fixed the landing structures at the Intake tower;
•Fixed the leakages at the Treatment Plant and rehabilitated some filters;
•Installed new electrical control panels, mechanical and pneumatic systems at the Main Treatment Plant;
•Installed new high lift pumps at the Spur Road Reservoirs for pumping water to Wilberforce and Lower Hill Station;
•Installed bulk flow and District Metering Area meters on the water transmission pipelines;
•Repaired a Gate Valve, and two cross-connection valves at Lakka, etc.
•Replacement of the 22 Inches transmission pipeline at the old Juba bridge.
Meanwhile, work to replace 3.2Km of aged transmission pipeline from Mile 13 to Hamilton is about 65% completed, according to the engineers.
The current Guma Board of Directors under the leadership of Hon. Bintu Myers are striving to build a productive, effective and efficient Guma Valley Water Company under the New Direction Government.
By Sallieu S Kanu