By Yankuba Jallow
Mallen Roberts, a chief operating officer at the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has provided explanation as to how NAWEC intends to resolve the problems of water supply in the country.
She disclosed this during a press conference held Friday at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center.
Roberts began saying that they understood the challenges the people are facing in terms of water supply and offered apology to the people.
She explained that NAWEC is running 3 projects that are all ongoing in an attempt to improve the water system. One of the projects supports the infrastructural development of NAWEC and this includes among others the upgrading of some of the boreholes.
The OIC Project will build 13 boreholes and a treatment plant to supply water.
Another project is the French Development Bank project to rehabilitate the existing infrastructure that is not functioning including water tanks that are bypassed. She explained that the first phase is at an advanced stage.
“That project will restore your system to its intended mode of operation. Meaning, some areas that usually have water and are currently not getting water will start having water,” she said.
She explained that the second phase will comprise 10 boreholes, a treatment plant and 4 big boreholes. She stated that the third phase will develop a complete master plan for the Greater Banjul Area and the other parts of the country for the water supply system. She added that the master plan will direct how the water sector will grow.
She stated that the Business Unit of NAWEC had invested on boreholes in Nema-su that are meant to supply the area including Bundung.
“It will not alleviate the problem, but it will go a long way in improving the existing situation,” she said.
“NAWEC properties belong to the Gambia. We are asking Gambians to please be patient with us. We are working behind the scene. You may not realise the benefits yet, but it is to come. So, please accept our apology and work with us,” she said.
She decried the vandalism of NAWEC properties.
“If one borehole goes down, it can affect a wide area of people,” she said.
She called on people to become more vigilant to ensure NAWEC properties are safe.
Foroyaa asked her why communities like Bundung would only get water supply in odd hours. Roberts said the NAWEC network is not the best.
“Our network is not the best,” she said.
She explained that the demand during the day is high.
“The peak demand during the day does not favour them. The pressure gets low by the time it gets to the extreme of the network. At night, late at night, the pressure is less. The pressure builds up and is able to push further into the network,” she said.
She also pointed out that some of the connectivity for the water supply was not done appropriately because of the ways the pipes interconnect. She said the problem has to do with demand and supply. She added that areas in the extreme of the connection would be affected when the demand is high.
