From Sule Aliyu Bauchi
The problem of acute shortage of portable drinking water being experienced in Bauchi metropolis is attributable to the collapse of three main transformers supplying electricity to the main source of water treatment and supply.
Responding to series of complains from various communities on the lingering problem threatening their existence, the state Commissioner Ministry of Water Resources Hon. Abdulrazak Nuhu Zaki said: “three transformers that supply electricity to the main source of treatment and supply got blown-off that affected service delivery
“We immediately lodged complain to the relevant authority concerned and all efforts were deployed to resuscitate, the transformers for continuation of output. That has almost been completed for the resumption full water supply in the shortest possible time.
The Commissioner said right now the state government is set to buy new power transformers that supply power to the water stations in a move to address the challenges being faced with water supply in Bauchi metropolis.
Speaking during the inauguration of the governing boards of directors of Bauchi State Urban Water and Sewerage Corporation (BSUWSC) and Bauchi State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) yesterday. the Commissioner said the main problem in water supply is the power supply and it is a national issue that the state has little to contribute to overcoming it.
He said the state government will continue to explore the utilization of solar systems to provide power to the schemes as much as is practicable.
He said, “You may be aware of the challenges being faced recently with water supply especially in Bauchi metropolis. Municipal water supply requires the utilization of electricity power. In fact, in situations where gravity flow is not obtainable, there has to be full mechanization of the system. This means flow in the system is induced by pumping which requires power to achieve it.”
“The Gubi Dam Water Treatment Plant relies on electricity to pump water to Bauchi metropolis. The power transformers at the substation have been developing problems which in turn have been affecting water supply to the metropolis,” Zaki said.
The commissioner said efforts have been ongoing to rectify the transformers, adding that one of the two 5mva transformers is on, while the other one is defective while the 3MVA being used as backup is also defective.
Zaki said the state governor, Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad has vowed to tackle the challenge headlong by replacing the old transformers that have shown weaknesses due to old age and the unsteady nature of power supply in the country, saying that the process for the replacement has commenced.
Zaki apologized to the general public to bear with the Ministry as the hardship was neither intentional nor caused by the Ministry but by external forces that had to be contained.
He therefore appealed the people to be more patriotic by reporting any fault that may be occur or realized to disrupt steady supply of water anywhere including vandalization of pipelines and other fittings for prompt action, while thanking the governor of Bauchi State, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Muhammà d for his understanding the unfortunate situation and all the necessary support and assistance deployed to the Ministry to overcome the problem.
He assured the people that immediately the repair works are tested and confirmed, steady supply will resume earnest since there is large volume of treated water waiting for dispensation
