By Nyerhovwho Oghenetejiri
Delta State Government has given an assurance that the Warri/Effurun African Development Bank assisted water project begun twenty five years ago that has lingered on but taken over the government is now set to give potable water to residents in Warri, Effurun and parts of Udu.
This assurance was given by Dr. Chris Oghenechovwen, Commissioner for Water Resources while undertaking random double check on a 15,000 houses covering 189Km laid water pipe lines across the area that is already connected with taps from the water project.
According to Dr. Oghenechovwen , “We have been working seriously to see that this project started in 1989 gets working, but it is only when we see the water comes out that people will know how much we have done. Now we are ready to give people in Warri, Effurun and parts of Udu 24hrs potable water supply purer than any water you can find around. Rehabilitation of laid pipes damaged over long abandonment and laying of new distribution pipes covering the first phase which have been our major problem completed. Today, treatment and electro-mechanic plants and 17 boreholes are being commissioned. By tomorrow we would have been done with flushing of the lines and the people can have water.”
The Commissioner for Water Resources warned all residents already connected to avoid drinking from the taps while the flushing of the lines lasts, explaining that it is unsafe for few days because of chemicals used in the task of flushing the lines.
Responding to a question on how much the current administration has spent in its intervention at realising completion of the project, Dr Oghenechovwen said, “It is when we have fully completed the project that we will be able to give a clear line on figures, but, I can assure you that the figures are within acceptable limits.”
He said the second phase at extending distribution network to the total planned 189Km has met 60% completion., He further apologised to residents for the inconveniences suffered as a result of the damages done to major roads in the area while the project consultant repaired ruptured underground pipes to lay fresh ones in course of getting through phase one, assuring that all the affected road portions would be fixed soonest.
