FCTA to ration water for residents as major treatment plants undergo rehabilitation
Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says the lack of water supply experienced in the Abuja city centre and some satellite towns is due to the major rehabilitation of two of the four treatment plants.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Lere Olayinka, media aide to the minister, said water supply to the residents would be rationed for two weeks while the rehabilitation of the plants is carried out.
He assured that rehabilitation of the two water treatment plants, which is to ensure better service delivery, would be completed within two weeks.
However, he noted plants under rehabilitation would be temporarily put back into service to supply water to residents during the Sallah festive period.
“This is aimed at mitigating the effect of the partial shutdown of water production and supply during the Sallah celebration,” the statement reads.
“The FCT Water Board operates four water treatment plants of 30,000 m³/hour, which are divided into Phases 1, 2, 3 and 4.
“As a result of the inefficiency of the plants, which are currently producing below their installed capacity, the contract was awarded for their rehabilitation to Messrs SCC Nigeria Limited.
“The rehabilitation works have reached an advanced stage on Phases 1 and 2 where the electro-mechanical equipment, which is the prime mover of the treatment plants, is to be replaced and reinstalled.
“This warranted a total shutdown of the two plants, which are interconnected.
“However, Phases 3 and 4 water treatment plants are operational but won’t sustain, meet or cater to the demand of the populace.
“Therefore, what is being experienced is a partial shutdown, not a total shutdown of the entire potable water supply to the residents of FCT, as two of the water treatment plants are still in operation.
“But there is partial disruption in water production and supply to the residents.
“Consequently, in order to minimise the adverse effects on the FCT residents, the Water Board has made a timetable on rationing by alternating between Lines 1 and 2 of the distribution networks.
“Residents are therefore urged to store enough water to cater to their needs during this period, as supply will be rationed.”
