A high-level delegation from the Guma Valley Water Company Board has completed a two-day visit to Guma facilities in both the Western Urban and Western Rural Districts of Freetown.
Head of the Board, Honourable Bintu Myers said the tour was to inspect various projects works at Guma facilities that have either been completed or ongoing.
She said the Board wants to get a firsthand update on the operations and challenges of the various facilities operated by the Company. The outcome of the inspection exercise will assist the Board in making informed decisions for the smooth running of the Company.
The intensive tour of the Guma facilities and operations sites covers the Tower Hill Reservoir, Guma Kissy Pipe Yard, Guma East Office, Allen Town Reservoir, Babadorie Reservoir, Hill Station Pumping Facility, Hill Station Braithwaite Tank, Hill Station Circular Tank, Hill Station Cylindrical Tank, Aberdeen District Metering Area, Guma Treatment Plant and Dam at Mile 13.
Speaking at the Guma Kissy Pipe Yard, Hon. Myers said the Board will follow up on The Freetown Water Supply Rehabilitation Project funded by UK Aid that has been on hold for over a year now due to the COVID-19 situation with the Ministry of Water Resources.
The Board of Directors recommended that in order to locate “missing” pipe fittings in the DFID containers at the Kissy Pipe Yard; all the containers should be opened and a proper search conducted.
With the fittings in hand, work on laying pipes in the East of Freetown could be started.
The Board commended the Guma Management for fencing its facilities so as to properly secure them and keep out squatters and encroachers and said they are impressed with the rehabilitation works ongoing at the Babadorie Reservoir under the Freetown Emergency Recovery Project funded by the World Bank.
The Board recommended that the fenced facilities should all be gated to control the movement of people and animals into these facilities.
Other recommendations proffered by the Board to Management included but not limited to squatters that are still occupying some of the Guma facilities are to be given a formal notice to quit by end of April 2021.
All structures occupied by squatters within the secured properties are to be demolished and signboards indicating property of Guma to be placed on the Fences.
Various tanks at Hill Station should be rehabilitated and new pipe lines installed to put them back into service.
Management should consider building Quarters for staff on the secured properties, company bowsers to be parked at some of the secured properties to reinforced Guma’s presence and the leakages at the Treatment Plant at Mile 13 are to be thoroughly investigated with a view to repair them.
The Chairman of the Board, Hon. Bintu Myers said the Board is striving to build a productive, effective and efficient Guma in months and years to come, whilst in office under the New Direction Government.