WEAH VILLAGE, Maryland County – More than 400 residents of Weah Village in Maryland County say they are being forced to drink water from a contaminated creek, warning that the community faces a growing public health crisis as it continues to lack access to safe drinking water.
By Peter P. Toe, Jr., peterp.toe@frontpageafricaonline.com
The community, located along the Harper Highway in District #1, has no hand pump or protected water source, leaving residents with no alternative but to rely on the creek for drinking, cooking, washing, and other household needs.
During a recent FrontPage Africa visit on Saturday, July 18, women and children were seen collecting water from the creek despite concerns over its safety.
Residents say conditions become particularly dangerous during the dry season when the water level drops and its quality deteriorates.
“We have been asking for a hand pump for years, but nothing has happened. This creek is the only water we drink,” said resident Frank Smith, who has lived in the community since 2017.
Smith said the creek’s location beside the Harper Highway presents an additional health hazard.
According to him, fatal road accidents frequently occur along the highway, and rainwater washes blood, oil, and other debris from accident scenes into the creek.
“We are dying,” Smith lamented. “We want the government and anyone who can help to come to our aid.”
Another resident, Moses Tye, appealed for urgent intervention, saying the community has exhausted every effort to secure assistance.
Women, who bear much of the burden of fetching water for their families, say they are increasingly worried about the health consequences.
Oretha Nathan said pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and elderly residents all depend on the creek despite its poor condition.
“The water becomes dirty during the dry season, and many people suffer from stomach pain after drinking it,” she said. “We are suffering. This is the only water we have. We need help before the situation gets worse.”
General Town Chief Gabriel B. Harmon said Weah Village has grown rapidly over the years but still lacks even a single functional hand pump.
He said community leaders have repeatedly appealed for assistance from government officials and political leaders, particularly during election campaigns, but those promises have yet to materialize.
“We are tired of begging for help,” Harmon said. “We need the government, our representative, NGOs, and anyone who can assist to please come and help this community.”
Residents fear that continued reliance on the creek could expose the community to waterborne diseases, including cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea, especially among children and other vulnerable groups.
Representative Jurry Pledges Response
After initially failing to respond to inquiries, District #1 Representative P. Mike Jurry later told FrontPage Africa by telephone on Monday evening that the situation had not previously been brought to his attention.
Jurry said he is expected to travel to Maryland County next week and will dispatch engineers to Weah Village to assess the community’s water needs.
“We will send engineers to Weah Village to determine whether there is an existing hand pump that has been damaged or whether there is a need for new construction,” the lawmaker said.
He thanked FrontPage Africa for drawing attention to the residents’ plight and pledged that his office would respond to the community’s water crisis within two weeks.
For residents who have spent years depending on a creek for survival, however, the promise offers cautious hope. Until a safe water source is installed, families in Weah Village say they remain trapped between thirst and the constant risk of disease.
