Why C/River public water supply has been irregular – MD

Mr Victor Ekpo, Managing Director, Cross River State Water Board, has attributed irregular water supply across the state to vandalised pipes and lately to high cost of diesel.

Ekpo, who spoke to the Newsmen in Calabar on Tuesday, said efforts were on to restore water supply to some parts of the state this week.

He noted that parts of Calabar South and Calabar Municipality, would from this week, enjoy uninterrupted water supply.

He said the board flow stations outside the capital city, used power generating set because of the low voltage of public power supply to the area.

According to him, "Our biggest challenge is that of diesel, the board does not have the fund to power the generating sets to pump water.

"For instance, our generator in Ikom Local Government uses about 130 litres of diesel at N800 per litre per hour, and you can imagine how much it will cost to pump such volume of water.

"We have discussed this with the governor and he has agreed to support the board with diesel.

"Similarly, we have issues with some of the pipes, they are either vandalised or broken by those who lay optic fibre cables.

"The board has fixed some and replaced some bad galvanised pipes.

"So, by this week, areas like Atimbo, Akpabuyo, Ikot Nsa, among others, will start to enjoy water supply."

Ekpo also regretted that the board was being owed over N1 billion by residents for the services rendered.

Meanwhile, residents of the area have said they look forward to see the tap rush again after almost two years of no water supply.

A resident of the Calabar South, Mr Judex Okoro, said that it would be a thing of joy for public water supply to be restored.

"We have not had water supply from the board in almost two years and we will be happy if they keep to the promise of restoring water supply from this week," he said.

It was the same response by Mr Lloyd Ndoma, who resides in State Housing in Calabar.