By Egwuagha Amarachukwu Abakaliki
Ebonyi state government yesterday said it had broken the age-long jinx in the area of distribution of potable water. Th e Commissioner for Water Resources, Mrs. Euphemia Nwali, disclosed this while addressing journalists, saying that the ministry had been able to fi x all problems associated with reticulation of water across the state with the state capital taking the lead. She said the state government, through the Ministry of Water Resources, had embarked on provision of potable water to the people of Ebonyi in a sustainable manner to improve living their standard. Nwali added that following the water losses in the pipe network in Abakaliki metropolis, often occasioned by vandalism on the pipes conveying water from the Oferekpe water scheme, the state government embarked on comprehensive pipe replacement programme in order to reduce water loss, replaced aged pipes and ensured sustainability in water delivery.
She said water had been reticulated to a distance covering over 500km using diff erent sizes of HDP pipes which WHO recommended for water distribution. According to her, over 23 streets have been covered and HDP pipes ranging from 181 lengths of six HDP pipes and installation of fi tting were also used to achieve the feat. Th e commissioner also fl ayed the statement allegedly credited to the former General Manager of the defunct Ebonyi Water Corporation, Paul Okorie, alleging that there was no water in the state. He described the statement as “pure falsehood” coming from the propagandists of opposition party in the state.
