The Area Manager of the Guma Valley Water Company in the east of Freetown, Joseph Wandoh has said on Wednesday June 17, 2020, that human activities, especially the cutting down of trees from areas which are supposed to be forest reserved areas, is a reason for insufficient supply of water in communities in Freetown.
Wandoh said people cut down the dam’s surrounding vegetation reserved to protect the ecological conditions that is conducive for a viable water catchment area. He added that deforestation has affected the source of water and has exposed it to sunlight which could decrease water and force it to dry up.
“Deforestation is our greatest threat now. People usually cut down the trees that are meant to protect water from sunlight, and so sooner or later the water will dry up, and the system will not send adequate water to the communities,” he warned.
He revealed that the Management of the Company has called on all the coordinating bodies to ensure that encroachment is ended so that the output of the dam would increase and accumulation sufficient water.
Wandoh further explained that it is common now for the dam to dry up.
“Wandoh said that to put the situation under control, the management has made many involvements to see that there is enough supply of water in the municipality.”
Manager Wandoh condemned the illegal cutting of pipes in communities where resident in dire need of water, in desperation, employ such illegal acts to access water.
He emphasized that “there are some deprived communities, after they have been cut off upon their refusal to pay water rate, in order to get access to water they usually cut off the pipes and that usually leads to waste of water which will affect the company negatively.
He called on stakeholders and residents in the community, together with the police, to work as a team and end the illegal cutting of pipes.
Manager Wandoh informed that the outbreak of the Coronavirus has caused a reduction in revenue, adding that revenue has dropped by 40%. He said that people are not paying their rates and that their big customers have scaled down their operations.
He explained that, the management has helped many communities with items like Veronica buckets, Face masks and others items to help fight the deadly disease in the country.
By Ibrahim S. Bangura
24/6/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7852