Kaduna state government is planning massive water expansion project in order to tackle the perennial water scarcity in the state as ABDULRAHEEM AODU writes.
In Kaduna state, the problem of water supply is relatively better as most residents within the city enjoy constant water supply, especially areas that have hitherto been connected to the distribution network before now. However, new areas and pockets of old areas are facing hiccups in water supply.
Investigation shows that the city centre currently relies on three water treatment plants: the 150m litre per day plant built in 1987, the 90m litre per day plant built in 1976/77 and the 27m litre per day plant built in 1929, all of which have become grossly inadequate to serve the ever expanding population in the city.
Following infrastructural decay over a long period of time, many of the distribution pipes became rusty, therefore could not carry water to their delivery points. There are also problems associated with leakages in some areas which also lead to drastic drop in water supply.
Different accounts by residents
According to Alhaji Dauda Suleiman, who lives in Kakuri, Kaduna South, he used to enjoy constant water supply until recently when the water ceased. He said, “We were enjoying water from water board and the supply was constant but for over a year now, we have not been seeing water in our tap.
“We complained and they promised to address it but it has not improved. Since we are enjoying borehole water from a neighbour, we depended on that and kept the money we are supposed to use to pay water bill.”
For Mrs Christy Semilore who lives in Barnawa, Kaduna South, she has not enjoyed tap water since 2006. “We were enjoying water supply until 2006 around July or August of that year. Since then, water stopped flowing and we have been getting water from borehole.
“Nobody on our street enjoys water. Previous governments have been making promises without any result.
Alhaji Tijjani Tajudeen, whose office is on Muhammadu Buhari Way, former Wharf Road said water supply did improve recently but epileptic which can be frustrating. “We do have constant supply of water from Kaduna water board in recent times but at times it is epileptic which could be frustrating.”
The water treatment plants were built to cover a period of 25 years of projected population increase after which a new plant needs to be built to complement the old ones, but no new plant has come up since 1987. Hence the need for a new plant to cater for the new areas and increased population in the old areas.
Expansion works in the offing
Perhaps, in answer to that, the state governor, Nasir el-Rufai has concluded plans to embark on greater Kaduna water supply expansion and sanitation project that will expand water supply to New Millennium City and other developing layouts.
The acting managing director, Kaduna State Water Corporation, Malam Sanusih Maikudi, who disclosed this to Blueprint in Kaduna, said that the project is expected to gulp $600 million (about N216 billion).
He noted that the design consists of construction of new dam, transmission and distribution network, reservoirs dedicated to each of the developing Kaduna neighbourhood, among others.
Speaking further, he said despite paucity of funds, he was able to improve water supply in the state by repairing pumps and other facilities as and when due and planning ahead to ensure the optimisation of existing facilities.
“The greater Kaduna water supply expansion and sanitation project that will expand water supply to new developing areas is expected to cost $600 million. The plan will take off probably next year because this year is already half spent.
“The cost centre at Kaduna State Water Corporation are many; there is the establishment of new water treatment plants, new reservoirs, new transmission and distribution network and maintenance of old ones.
“On the average, water treatment chemicals consume about N150 million monthly, energy consumes about N70 million monthly. Then Kaduna state government built the new 150m liters per day water treatment plant in Zaria at the cost of N24 billion,” he added.
The Zaria Waterworks, a perennial Zaria regional water project that has gulped billions of naira across successive administrations in the state has finally come to fruition. The 150m liters per day project was initially intended to cover Zaria and Sabongari local government areas but had been expanded to cover five other local government areas.
The project, which include reservoir and pipelines, now serves two million people in areas including Makarfi, Kudan, Kubau, Giwa and Soba local government areas.
According to the director of operations, Kaduna State Water Corporation, Malam Abdulrazak Abubakar, Zaria and environs now enjoy water supply, “We have water treatment plant 10m litre per day built in 1939, 50m litre per day built in 1976 in Kongo, and the new 150m litre per day Zaria waterworks.
“Production is not enough and distribution line is not reliable because of age. Now there are new reservoirs in Kufena, Wusasa, Tudun Wada, Hanwa, Paladan, Samaru and Zaria City all tested and put into use. There is a treatment plant in Ikara; it is working but facing power challenges, same with Saminaka.
“In a bid to improve the water supply, we are trying to rehabilitate where necessary. Government has awarded contract for retrofitting the treatment plants in Kafanchan, Kagoro, Kwoi, Saminaka, Ikara, Kaduna South and Kaduna North. We planned to reach new areas like Hanyin Malam Bello, Rafin Gusa and Millennium City.
“We operate rapid response mechanism to operation and maintenance, reported leakages, contamination and dry areas. There is total war against leakages across our line. Many areas have water but poor response to payment,” he added.
The director, Quality Control, KSWC, Malam Aminu Suleiman said some areas were having challenge in Kafanchan, “We did some integration work, regulated some pipes to enable all parts of Kafanchan have water instead of the low gravity areas only.”
Blueprint investigation shows that there are no major water borne disease epidemics in the state, but some students of Government Day Secondary School Kawo in 2017 suffered from outbreak of cholera due to the way they were passing impurities into their source of water, but were all treated and discharged.
