— LWSC boss Mo Ali discloses
Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) has alarmed the unprecedented low number of water consumers who are complying with payment of bills compared to the many who are said to be accessing public water without paying for it.
Mohammed Ali, Managing Director of LWSC, explained on OK FM’s afternoon show that if people paid for the service, much work would be done and more people would have access to water compared to the low percentage currently recorded by the company.
“We have begun a massive disconnection exercise. We started off today (Monday February 11, 2024) around the Duport area and that will continue until we can collect more than 50 percent of our debt.
Just for this year, from January to October, there is uncollected debt of nearly one million United States Dollars. We have 14,000 customers but less than 5,000 of this number pay bills,” Ali said, noting that the failure on the part of the majority of the customers to pay bills continue to deny the company sufficient funds to underwrite costs for maintenance, extension of service to communities yet to have access as well as providing security other services.
Post-war Liberia continues to face the harsh realities of reconstruction and modernization of infrastructures, most especially due to lack of insufficient financial allotments to handle the unfolding constraints. The 14 year civil unrest led to the destruction of all facilities and infrastructures, with water management and supply system not an exception.
It is over 20 years though since the sounds of war guns ceased but rebuilding is yet to be realized as poverty rate and insincerity continue to be on the rise in the country.
“We do not have the money to pay for the extension of the main pipe into the communities. We understand that access to water is a fundamental human right but in order to continue having it, it is good that people pay. Water bills are not that high. An average home uses less than 5,000 gallons per month and it costs around US$10. A single individual using water pays US$5 or even less than, depending on the usage,” Ali said.
He added that whoever is disconnected for not paying the water bill will have to be reconnected. “There are some communities that are just using water without paying and when there is no water supply they can be the loudest in criticizing.”
LWSC MD admonished all interested in having and using water to visit the company’s website at www.lwsc.gov.lr, download a form, register with all the needed details and photocopy same along with a valid identification card and proceed to its office for consideration to be connected after paying the sum of about US$200.
Ongoing developments
About ongoing developments at the company, Ali noted that the construction of a dosing unit to effectuate the application of chlorine into the water for its purification has been completed.
He said powder chlorine is being used instead of liquid chlorine due to the many security conditions that are associated with its importation.
“The chlorine dosing unit will transform the powder into a liquid form and it will be used into the clear water wells. The dozing chlorine unit will determine the exact quantity of chlorine that is required to disinfect any given quantity of water, even millions of gallons,” Ali explained.
He added that a booster station has also been reconstructed and it will enable the supply of water through pipes to as far as St. Paul Bridge community on the Bushrod Island and some parts of central Monrovia through the Vai Town corridor.
“The second development is that we now have a booster station at Caldwell Junction. It got burned in 2021. The water is pumped from the treatment plant in Caldwell and before it reaches Duala, the pressure drops. If functioning, it helps to pump water all the way to St. Paul Bridge and also towards town,” LWSC boss noted.
Ali explained that since the booster got burned, residents in Duala and central Monrovia have not been receiving water but the problem has been resolved and the dedication of the facility will take place before this month. “We have just completed that and are now installing the electrical facilities.”
He put the cost for the booster construction at US$136,000 while the chlorine unit costs US$82,000.
Water supply in other countries
While there are constraints, LSWC has embarked on opening up its service delivery to other parts of the country and hopes that in three years some remarkable projects will be completed and residents of some counties in the Southeast, as well as Gbarnga in Bong County and Bopolu City in Gbarpolu will begin to benefit from LWSC (water) supply.
“We just signed a contract for the construction of a water supply system in Bopolu City. It is the same thing we have in Kakata and Robertsport. We will run pipes to government offices and hospitals and some other buildings. When people want water they can pay for connection to their homes. That is expected to be completed in February,” Ali avered.
He named Greenville in Sinoe, Pleebo in Maryland and subsequently Zwedru in Grand Gedeh County as cities that will benefit from the first plan which is expected to run up to 2026.
Ali disclosed that the sum of US$60,000 has been secured through the Ministry of Finance to conduct feasibility study in the counties and it is hoped and expected that the outcome will be appealing for the implementation of the earmarked project.
He appealed to all who take interest in using LWSC’s water to pay for it and connect legally.
