By Raphael Ekwe
Residents of Port Harcourt Metropolis have applauded the Port Harcourt Water Corporation (PHWC) for steady progress in restoring public potable water supply across the city.
The commendation follows the completion of major rehabilitation works under the Urban Water Sector Reform and Port Harcourt Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Project, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Officials of the AfDB recently toured project sites, including the Water Corporation’s corporate headquarters at Rumuola, where they inspected 22 boreholes.
The team also visited the construction of toilet facilities at Rumuomasi Morning Market, Wakrike Market and Borokiri Market, as well as water installations in private residences in Rumuola, Diobu and other areas.
Mrs Ijeoma Martin, a charcoal trader at Rumuomasi Morning Market, described the ongoing toilet construction as a welcome development.
“We appreciate the good things they did for us. All my children go here because when they go to other toilets, they say the toilet is not fine. Anything that affects human beings, it affects God. Toilet is good and they have bring their hearts to do it for us. Almighty God will bless them,” she said.
The AfDB team also inspected water substations and offices at Diobu, Moscow Road and Borokiri in Port Harcourt Township.
The project is designed to produce over 148 million litres (330,000 cubic metres) of potable water daily and upgrade between 456 and 496 kilometres of pipeline. It is expected to serve between 1.3 million and 3 million residents of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor.
“For the first time in decades, public water is flowing again in many neighbourhoods, offering relief from dependence on private boreholes, water vendors and sachet water. We thank Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the PHWC. Water is life. This government has brought back what we lost for over 20 years,” a resident of Diobu Thomas Oyi said.
Managing Director of PHWC, Chief Ibibia Walter, stated that the corporation has completed core civil works, conducted water quality tests and is now focusing on household connections and the installation of customer water meters.
He added that the corporation has begun collaboration with schools to provide potable water and renovate toilet facilities as part of efforts to improve sanitation.
Chief Walter thanked the Rivers State Government, the AfDB, contractors and technical partners for sustaining the project, noting that it will create over 1,200 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs.
The Production and Water Quality Manager of PHWC, Engr Charlotte Iwokiri Aningenime, said the corporation is ready to meet the demand for water from residents of Port Harcourt.
“We’ve laid about 456 km of pipe on the ground. So if a section is bad, we have our teams that is going around to dig out that area, fix it back. In our premises, you’ll see some pipes that are laying there, so pipe materials are not our problem,” she explained.
She added that trained teams are ready to be deployed to address leakages and respond to customer enquiries.
“The places we have leakages, we are going to rectify it. I want to tell you that the ball is rolling, we are not turning back. We are showing the people of Port Harcourt that this water will get to your doorstep. And if we cannot even connect to your house, we have kiosks that you can take water from. You don’t need to buy sachet water that is really not pure. This water, you can use it for cooking, you can drink it.”
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