The Commissioner of Water Resources in Kaduna State, Mr. Sunday Marshal Katung, in this interview with MIDAT JOSEPH, speaks on the effort of the state government to ensure that the citizens have access to clean water.
?Can you give us an insight into the state water supply and poverty alleviation in Kaduna State?
Well, with less time spent in searching for water, more time is available for productive activities. I can assure you that potable water improves hygiene and public health, thereby improving quality of life. I can assure that if there is water available, there would be increase in employment opportunities such as agriculture for domestic and industrial uses.??
What are the measures the state government is taking to improve water supply?
As you can see, water supply remains our top priority. We are rehabilitated and expand the projects we have on hand. We also have three-pronged approach, urban water supply, semi urban and rural water supply.
The Kaduna State Water Board is a parastatal under the Ministry of Water Resources? charged with the responsibility of providing potable water to the teeming urban populace. The Kaduna State Water and Sanitation is the second organisation charged with the provision of water and sanitation facilities in schools and rural communities, with emphasis on women and children and in collaboration with UNICEF.
What are the basic functions of the department of water resources?
It is the department in the Ministry of Water Resources that is largely responsible for implementation of the semi-urban water supply, rural water supply programmes and Conditional Grants Schemes to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and limited direct urban water supply intervention and improvement works.
What is the state of urban water supply since the inception of this regime?
I can authoritatively tell you that prior to the inception of this administration, urban water supply operations encountered huge challenges.
These include obsolete? equipment, erratic power supply, low tariff, low staff morale due to pending outstanding salaries and leave and transport grants, low plant capacity utilisation and service coverage, outstanding electricity bills, insufficient water treatment chemicals and inadequate operational logistics.
These are some of the difficulties we encountered but we are doing everything possible to make sure that everyone in Kaduna enjoys the dividend of democracy.
Are you saying that people in the urban and rural areas will enjoy potable water, considering? other competing capital projects?
I can assure you that Kaduna metropolitan and environs are now enjoying improved water supply services. The aim of this government is to make sure that people feel the dividend of democracy. We are people-driven and we want all the good people of Kaduna to give us their cooperation so that we could provide the basic amenities.
What would you say about the state of semi-urban and rural communities in terms water supply?
First and foremost, I must tell you that we have about 3,040 functional boreholes. The 342 hand pump boreholes awarded by MDGs Projects awarded in year 2010 is 98 per cent completed. There are 23 solar-powered boreholes.
For instance, from 2009 to 2011, Kaduna State government directly funded 759 projects for hand pump boreholes and it is at 58 per cent completion and? 36 solar-powered boreholes at 92 per cent completion.
What are the reasons for these massive efforts in semi-urban and rural communities water supply?
Let me tell you this; most of these water supply projects are geared towards achieving the MDGs of reducing by half the number of people without access to safe water by 2015.
What about urban water supply?
We launched improved access to water supply across the State on December 1, 2011. Prior to the launching of the initiative for improved water supply across Kaduna State, most of the regional water supply schemes had witnessed dry taps for quite a long time due to power supply problems in the areas.
These schemes are now enjoying improved water supply services in Zaria, Zonkwa, Kafanchan and Kwoi. The programme will soon be expanded to cover Ikara Regional Water Supply Scheme – to provide potable water to Anchau and Soba; Birnin Gwari and Saminaka will follow once works on the raw water source is completed.
What would you say concerning the Kaduna metropolitan area projects that are completed?
I want you to know that the rehabilitation and completion of Kaduna metropolitan water treatment plants and booster stations, rehabilitation of transmission main reservoirs and distribution system, rehabilitation of industrial office and residential buildings are ongoing.
What does the future hold for semi-urban and rural areas in sanitation services?
By 2016, there will 50 per cent access to sanitation services for semi-urban and rural areas, 80 per cent access to sanitation services for all major urban areas by 2016.
Places we are looking at are Kaduna Metropolitan Area, Zaria City and cnvirons, Kafanchan Water Supply Expansion, Kachia Water Supply Project, Zonkwa, Kwoi, Ikara, Birnin Gwari and Saminaka.
Should we be hopeful that by 2016 all these things will be put in place?
I am telling you that with the support of the good people of Kaduna State, we will achieve 100 per cent access to water for all major urban? areas by 2016, like the Kaduna Metropolitan Area, Zaria City and environs, Kafanchan Water Supply Expansion, Kachia Water Supply Project and Zonkwa, Kwoi, Ikara, Birnin Gwari and Saminaka.
How would you describe the path toward achieving all these; any challenges?
Yes, as we all know, to achieve such a massive project, it has to be funded by the government, and when money is not disbursed to the ministry as at when due, it will be difficult. So, funding is the major thing that might hamper the success of these projects.
What would you say about the construction of new 150 MLD water treatment plant in Zaria?
Well the overall progress of work is put at 70 per cent completion?? and the numbers of the target beneficiaries is put at? 2.2 million people living in Zaria metropolis and environs in six local government areas up to a Planning Horizon of 2025.
The Zaria water supply expansion project is in three phases. Phase I is the construction of 150 MLD Water Treatment Plant, Phase II is the construction of transmission mains and 10 new water storage reservoirs at various locations in Zaria, whose funding source is the Islamic Development Bank.
The Phase III is the rehabilitation of the existing distribution network, and extension of the network and sanitation services, and the funding source is the African Development Bank.
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