The boreholes were constructed by the Freetown WASH Consortium with over one million pounds of funding from UK Aid.  In parallel, the UK Aid has committed thirty eight (38) million pounds to rehabilitate Freetown’s aging water network, which loses nearly half of its water to leaks. The Dry Season Plan outlines a series of activities that ensures current availability of water supply is sustainable throughout the year, manage water demands, monitor key water parameters and communicate effectively to decision makers and the wider general public and such actions increase access to safe and reliable water supply and mitigate risks of water usage from unprotected water sources by people during dry spells.

The Minister of Water Resources Honourable Momodu Maligie thanked donors’ partners for the supports they have been given to the country. He went on by highlighting a good number of issues that were affecting the water sector in the country that include inadequate resources, the attitude of people and the ills of the environmental. He added that as a result of that they immediately requested for supports from donors partners to assist and the government therefore drew up a plan and it is as a result of that plan that brought up the successful completion of the provision of safe and pure drinking water for the people of Calaba Town community.

Honorable Minister of Water Resources disclosed that they have established and dedicated rapid response teams to monitor and repair leaking pipes along ten zones in Freetown and a toll free number 246 has been set up to allow the public to report any concerns as a measures to reduce significant water loss resulting from created leaks or pipe cutting to alleviate water shortages in those areas of Freetown that are vulnerable to public health outbreaks and are located beyond network coverage. He added that after completion, these water facilities are being handed over to the Guma Valley Water Company for future maintenance and day to day operation and he went on to say that to ensure sustainability and efficient operation the water supply will be managed according to recommendations laid out in result of research currently being carried out by Freetown WASH Consortium.

Head of Sierra Leone Guma Valley Water Company, Mr. Bankole Mansaray stressed that water is life but we should handle it with care and he added that if we fail to handle the water properly the people that are given out funds for the provision of safe and pure water will not continue to spend their money on us. He urged the people of Calaba Town community to take proper care of the two borehole wells and one water kiosk that are provided to them.

The representative of DFID said that the water facilities that are provided to the people of the Calaba Town community and other environments in Freetown is part of the UK developmental projects that focuses on the provision of clean and pure drinking water, provision of adequate medical  facilities to help humanity. She thanked the WASH Consortium in addressing the challenges of water facilities in communities. She urged Sierra Leoneans to take proper care of the two borehole wells and one water kiosk and she added that effective management of the water facilities is essential to their sustenance. She disclosed that the water facilities are part of the President Recovery Priority of the country.

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