From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
After 16 solid years of dry taps from public water source, Awka capital territory and environs, will on or before the second year anniversary of the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, experience for the first time, public pipe borne water.
The disclosure was made yesterday by the Chairman/CEO of Ovamann Pumps Ltd, Kelvin Ifegbuike, the contracting firm handling the construction/resuscitation of greater Awka water scheme during a media tour to the water facilities.
Ifegbuike noted that additional 10 water bore holes (8 at Aroma water scheme and 2 at ABS water station) have been drilled to complement the existing ones making it a total of 17 bore holes that would supply water to the treatment plant being installed at Aroma water scheme.
He noted that after treating the water, water would then be moved using pumping machine to the 20million capacity tank for onward distribution across the capital city.
Furthermore, Ovamann MD said that about 25KMs of new distribution lines/pipes with fetching points are being laid to cover more new locations in Awka.
He noted that the submersible pumps which are hybrid and every other equipment in the water scheme would be powered by solar energy systems already being installed.
At the water station inside ABS, it was observed that apart from additional bore holes, solar panels have also been installed as the power source with an electric transformer.
At the government house, laying of pipes connecting all the surface tanks of all the offices are almost completed with fetching points.
Our reporter gathered that before now, all the buildings/offices at the government house were depending on water vendors for water supply for the past sixteen (16) years.
At the headquarters of Anambra state water management Agency, serious renovation works were seen ongoing to reconstruct the abandoned offices for the staff of the agency.
Some analysts who spoke lauded the untiring efforts of the Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwumeka who is driving the Soludo vision in ensuring the resuscitation of long abandoned public utilities in the state.