Dominic Iranya, the district water officer in Obongi, revealed that some of the water sources were installed between 15-20 years ago, and have low yield even after repairs and poor quality issues.
Obongi
district's local government water department is set to decommission at least 64
boreholes across the district.
Dominic
Iranya, the district water officer in Obongi, revealed that some of the water
sources were installed between 15-20 years ago, and have low yield even after
repairs and poor quality issues.
//Cue
in: “We are looking…
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out:…to decommissioning it.”//
Iranya
explained that leaving the irreparable water points gives an exaggerated water
access figure to the Ministry of Water.
//Cue
in: “Most of the…
Cue
out: …serve its purpose.”//
Iranya
explained that they are in the final stages of decommissioning the boreholes,
which includes removing them from the database of the Ministry of Water.
//Cue
in: “We have engaged…
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out: …Ministry of Water database.”//
Benson
Humphrey Otim, the Chief Administrative Officer of Obongi district, said most
of the boreholes to be decommissioned were installed during the first influx of
South Sudanese refugees in the area. Otim
explained that the exercise will not affect the water coverage in the district,
because they have rehabilitated over 156 boreholes across the district.
//Cue
in: “One fifty six…
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out: …taking wrong water.”//
According
to the district database, access to clean and safe water within the district
stands at 78% in the last financial year 2023/24 compared to 36% during the
2019/20 financial year, though plans are underway to increase it to 85% by the
end of 2025.
Dominic Okumu
Freelancer