MONROVIA – For nearly seven decades, much of Monrovia’s water has flowed through a pipeline laid in 1958. Next week, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) expects to commission its replacement. Managing Director Mo Ali puts the cost of the new 10-kilometer, 48-inch line at US$12.4 million. The larger pipe expands capacity, but it is only one link in a longer chain. Production, distribution and maintenance will decide whether more taps actually run in more homes. That gap is where faith leaders now press their case. Bishop Kortu Brown called for dialogue and cooperation. At a Brewerville forum, Church Aid Incorporated framed water as a human right and a public good. THE ANALYST reports.
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The Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) is expected to commission a newly installed 10-kilometer, 48-inch water pipeline next week, replacing a 36-inch line that has served the country since 1958. LWSC Managing Director Mo Ali said the project cost the Government of Liberia US$12.4 million (L$2.26 billion).
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Ali disclosed the figure on Thursday, October 22, 2026, while delivering the keynote address at a roundtable discussion and presentation organized by the Liberia Water Justice Forum in Brewerville, outside Monrovia.
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He described the replacement as a significant development in the country’s water supply infrastructure.
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Replacing a pipeline that has been in service for decades also underscores the importance of investing in aging public infrastructure to meet the growing water needs of communities.
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The new line’s larger diameter represents an expansion in the infrastructure’s physical capacity compared with the 36-inch pipeline it replaces.
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However, the actual improvement in water supply will depend on operating conditions, available water and the wider distribution network. That caveat reflects a broader reality in the sector.
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Pipelines are only one link in the chain. Their benefits also depend on adequate water production, effective distribution, regular maintenance and the capacity to extend services to communities in need.
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Faith Leaders Call for Action
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Also speaking at the forum, Bishop Kortu Brown, Chairman of the Board of Church Aid Incorporated (CAI), said the event is intended to provide a platform for religious leaders, water-sector stakeholders and other relevant actors to discuss practical strategies for ensuring that all Liberians have access to safe drinking water.
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Brown explained that the forum seeks to encourage collaboration among faith-based institutions, civil society organizations, water-sector authorities and development partners.
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Bringing stakeholders from different sectors together, he said, creates opportunities to exchange ideas, identify practical solutions and strengthen collective efforts to make water accessible to communities.
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His remarks highlight the role religious institutions and civil society organizations can play in advocating for public services and drawing attention to communities that continue to struggle to obtain safe drinking water.
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Ali pointed to a major government-funded infrastructure project, while Brown emphasized dialogue and cooperation among stakeholders to advance water justice.
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As the commissioning approaches, residents and stakeholders will be watching closely. The effectiveness of both the new infrastructure and the collaborative initiatives will help determine whether more communities can obtain safe and dependable drinking water.
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Water as a Human Right
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The forum also gave participants a chance to examine water challenges from a human-rights perspective, with emphasis on equitable access, public accountability and the sustainable management of water resources.
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It was held under the theme “Water as a Human Right and Public Good.” The theme stresses that access to safe water is a matter of public concern and that water policies and services should respond to the needs of the population.
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The Liberia Water Justice Forum was organized by Church Aid Incorporated in collaboration with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Africa Water Justice Network.
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Through the roundtable and presentations, participants were expected to exchange perspectives on water justice, identify challenges within the sector and explore approaches to improving access to safe and reliable drinking water.
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Organizers said involving religious leaders and international partners is intended to broaden the discussion beyond infrastructure to include public awareness, community participation, accountability and equitable access. Access to safe drinking water remains an important public development issue in Liberia, where the availability and reliability of services can vary considerably between communities.
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Infrastructure limitations, the need for investment in water systems and the difficulty of delivering services to underserved areas all shape the national conversation.
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LWSC is the key public institution responsible for water supply and sewerage services within its operational mandate. Investments in pipelines and related infrastructure are important parts of efforts to strengthen water delivery, but they work best alongside sustained maintenance and service expansion.
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