By Amin Kef Sesay
There was a time in this country when the capital city Freetown was soaking with clean drinking pipe-borne water in all the communities that existed then. Pumps opened and ran ‘fiti-fata’ with water 24-7. This basic human right was not only enjoyed by Freetown dwellers but also all the main provincial district towns and even places like Segbwema.
Alas, this reality is no more seen across the country; even in the capital city where our children, women and youths are busy 24-7 searching for clean water to drink from very obscure, dubious sources that medical experts told this commentator contributes greatly to “run belleh” and other related water borne disease; some of which are life threatening to our children under five.
Access to running water is a big problem for a huge number of people across this country as deforestation takes its effect on existing water sources.
With regards growing urbanization, there has to be heightened political determination to ensure sustainable water resources based on social need rather than commercial concerns, are robustly addressed. Right now the water bottling companies are busy milking out pockets dry with a sachet sold in the provinces for Le500.
Poor supply management of watering places and the high costs of water network connections make the problem very acute in both urban and rural areas.
Because water is scarce, flush toilets that need water to remain clean are clogged with feces. People get rid of their excrement by putting them in plastic bags and throwing them anywhere. Ironically, the problem does not stem from the scarcity of water as such, but to the fact that 50 per cent of water is wasted or diverted.
To solve the problem durably requires greater access to water supply and other infrastructures and services.
Water management is complex. It is a cross-cutting resource because it affects altogether health, urban development, agriculture, industry and leisure. It also has multiple stakeholders.
As such, management of water services is complex. It requires high technical ability, permanent adaptation to changing conditions and important funds, because of the high cost of infrastructure and equipment, together with permanent maintenance needs.
Guma and SALWACO accordingly must make a realistic assessment of our water management capabilities in specific circumstances.
Importantly, we need national and international collaboration and understanding because sustainable water management represents long term security for all of us.
For a good water management policy in African cities, several challenges have to be met, such as:
– Implementation of laws and regulations giving water management to local communities
– Knowledge of water sources
– Development of a framework for the management of surface water resources
– Necessity of financial means and human resources to monitor and operate the equipments
– Informing and educating people on rational use of watering places
Proposals and recommendations for improving people’s access to drinking water include:
– Control, the development and the water supply based on the principle of demand
– Management and the rational exploitation of water resources
– Training and re-training of communities as well as the establishment of a process concerning equipments renewal
– Strengthening of the drinking water supply systems
– Establishment of a high council for water
– Setting-up of a water fund for a real management of the resource
– Establishment of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms
