Uzodimma reactivates abandoned Owerri water scheme

Uzodimma

Gov. Uzodimma

By Peter Okolie

Governor Hope Uzodimma has successfully reactivated the Owerri Water Scheme, which was moribund for over 15 years in Imo state.

Mr Declan Emelumba, the Commissioner for Information disclosed on Friday while conducting newsmen round the now functional Otamiri Water Plant.

“For over 15 years, the Owerri residents did not have water from the public tap. This was worrisome to the governor; hence, he decided to reactivate the plant which now pumps water to some sections of the city,” he said.

Victor Azuamairo, the Resident Engineer in charge of the facility, explained that the plant stopped working as a result of obsolete equipment and pipelines.

Azuamairo expressed delight that the governor intervened and upgraded the facility by procuring and installing modern equipment.

“The plant is now functional. We now send water from the Otamiri River to process in the treatment plants and distribute.

According to him, the plant now distributes water to the state Secretariat, Onitsha Road, Aladinma, Imo State University and Assumpta areas of Owerri.

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He said their major challenge was the broken and leaking pipelines, adding that a lot of water was being lost during distribution.

Azuamairo said the plant had the capacity to treat and distribute 60,000 cubic litres of water within the 14-km radius of Owerri Urban.

However, he appealed to the government to caution against the dumping of refuse in the river.

Also, inspected were the two gigantic balloon-technology-driven tunnels built at Lake Nwaebere, off MCC Road and Works Layout.

The commissioner said they were constructed to collect and empty rainwater from different parts of Owerri into the Otamiri and Nworie Rivers.

“This is expected to permanently end the perennial flooding in parts of the city, which had forced many residents to flee their homes.

“These projects have helped to recover both the buildings and roads, which were rendered impassable for many years by past administrations,” Emelumba said.

NAN

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