NAN-AE-9
Water
By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, May 26, 2017 (NAN) Lagos Water Corporation on Friday identified population explosion, power, water wastage, ageing infrastructure and faulty pricing as the major challenges facing water supply since the state’s creation 50 years ago.
The corporation identified the challenges via a statement issued in Lagos by its Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Feranmi Akinmuleya.
The statement said that the population of Lagos State, which was currently 22 million, would hit 29 million by 2020.
It also said that the current installed water capacity of the state was 210 million gallons of water per day (MGD), while the water demand was 540 MGD.
“The implication is that the water demand by year 2020 will be 733 MGD.
“It is estimated that 86 immigrants enter Lagos every hour — the highest in any city in the world.
“This shows that the water demand will continue to outweigh supply.
“To meet the current shortfall and projected water demand, the corporation developed a Lagos Water Supply Master Plan in 2010.
“This is a roadmap to take Lagos to 745 MGD, in line with our targets, by 2020.
“In implementing the master plan, the state government approved the immediate construction of 100 MGD Odomola Water Scheme to serve Victoria Island, Badore, Igbo Efon, Lekki, Ajah, down to Epe.
“This is part of our immediate response to the provision of safe drinking water in sufficient and regular quantities to Lagosians, in consonance with the Lagos Water Supply Master Plan,’’ it said.
The statement said that the Odomola water project would be executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
It said that the government had embarked on many projects, which involved reticulation and expansion of water mains so as to increase water production and supply across the State.
It also said there were ongoing rehabilitation and expansion projects in different parts of Lagos, which involved replacement of pipes and expansion of water mains to boost water supply.
The statement said that the state government had also introduced the Geographical Information System (GIS) to enhance the operational efficiency and management of water supply systems and other facilities.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), however, reports that the Adiyan Waterworks is currently supplying 70MGD, while works are underway on its Phase II project to boost water supply with additional 70MGD.
NAN gathers that when the water projects are completed, they would improve water supply in Lagos State and serve additional three million residents. (NAN)
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