By Politico staff writer
As the supply of water in the Western Area decreases, the Guma Valley Water Company has called on citizens to stop deforestation which is said to be a major factor for the low water supply.
The call was made in a statement issued by the company on the 14th July, 2023.
It recalled that for over 3 decades now, the company has been championing the issue of forest conservation in the Western Area Peninsula Park. The championing it said was a result of the forests and water sources that are closely intertwined.
The statement referenced studies which have demonstrated that for every 1% of forest cover that is lost; an equivalent amount of water supply vanishes. It noted that as the demand for water increases with rapid population growth in Freetown, the threat to the health and well-being of Freetown residents becomes frightening.
It stated that the deforestation and clearing of land for housing development at Banga Farm Sussex and the Guma Dam Trail at the No. 2 River Community has the tendency to expose the Guma Dam, which supplies over 90% of potable water to Freetown, to severe climate change impacts.
“Over the past few years, Guma Valley has been working with the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Water Catchments, Mangroves and Wetlands together with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRMA), National Protected Area Authority (NPAA),” it said.
It added that the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has also been implementing the Water Fund for the conservation of the Western Area National Forest Park to restore the lost environment in respect to the mangroves, wetlands and forests (water catchments).
The company is said to be presently working with the National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRMA), World Food Programme (WFP) and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA Nigeria), to secure the necessary funding to better protect and rehabilitate the Western Area Peninsula Park; which is the main source of water resources for the Western Area.
It pointed out that the Guma Dam at Mile 13 is located 862 feet above sea level with “very good quantity of raw and quality water;” saying its elevation allows the company to send water supply from Mile 13 to Wellington without the use of electrical energy, thereby making the cost of production very low.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (17/07/23)
