Fast-tracking Zaria water project

The town is facing population expansion such that the need to provide sustainable water became paramount.  About 2.2 million people are estimated to be living in the town and neighbouring communities with peculiar problem of water shortage.The Kaduna state government awarded the contract for the Zaria regional water project (Phase one) at Kekeyi village in […]

The town is facing population expansion such that the need to provide sustainable water became paramount.  About 2.2 million people are estimated to be living in the town and neighbouring communities with peculiar problem of water shortage.
The Kaduna state government awarded the contract for the Zaria regional water project (Phase one) at Kekeyi village in 2006 which according to the General Manager, Kaduna State Water Board Engineer Kabiru Ahmed Rufai, involved the construction of a new 150 million liters per day water treatment plant. He said the total project till date was about 95 per cent completed with all its major components including the service reservoir, pre-settling tank, cascade aerators, hydraulic mixers and distribution chambers, chemical building, horizontal flow clarifiers, rapid gravity filters, contact tanks, sludge lagoons and high lift pumping stations in place.
The manager said the treatment plant will be ready for use in early 2014 and “would serve about 2.2 million people residing in over 23 communities in seven local government areas including Zaria, Sabon Gari, Giwa, Kudan, Makarfi, Soba and Kubau.    
The 186.1 million cubic meters Gulma Dam at Kuzuntu, which will serve as the major source of water to the treatment plant was about 98 per cent completed. Its construction work was awarded in 2006 by the federal government. Minister of Water Resources, Serah Reng Ochekpe, said the Gulma which will be used for water supply, irrigation and power supply has been completed.    
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the state signed an agreement (Phase two) for the construction of new transmission and gravity mains (over 73 kilometer pipeline), ten service reservoirs, two booster stations, consultancy service and project management. The sum of $81 million was obtained from the Bank for the project.
Also, the state government in collaboration with the Africa Development Bank (ADB) will separately undertake another project (Phase three) involving rehabilitation and extension of the distribution networks and sanitation facilities. The project, estimated at $101 million was commissioned last week.  Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero said during the commissioning exercise that the initial contract for the treatment plant was awarded in 2006 at the cost N15 billion and it was later estimated at N24 billion which was too much for the state to accommodate. He said the project was aimed at addressing the problems of water shortage being faced by the people.   
“There is no doubt that the essence of governance is to provide quality service for the people. Consequently, we have remained focused in mobilizing resources for the implementation of people-oriented projects across the entire state. The launching of this crucial component of the Zaria Water Project is indeed a significant milestone in achieving our objective of completing this important project.    
“Improved water supply is one of our main objectives as an administration. We strongly believe that no meaningful development can be achieved where access to potable water supply remains difficult.
We have gone far in our efforts to solve the water problem being experienced in Zaria and environs. The 150mld Regional Water Supply being constructed by the state government at Kakeyi village, near the existing 50mld Water Works is meant to increase water supply, to meet the ever increasing demand for this vital resource.
 “We are aware that increasing the production capacity alone will not yield the desired result, without addressing the distribution network, transmission mains and service reservoirs.  We are therefore partnering with the African Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank to consolidate the gains of the multi-billion Naira Zaria regional water supply project.
“Interestingly, the water scheme has the potentials to serve 5 other local governments of Sabon Gari, Kubau, Soba, Kudan and Giwa. Also, the project has sanitation component attached to it, in which sanitation facilities are to be provided at public places and schools in addition to hygiene promotion activities.”
Yero said ADB loaned the state the sum of $101 million for the ADB joint project which entails the construction of water supply and sanitation infrastructure including about 458KM pipe network and 4,041 toilet facilities in schools and public places, initial reforms and capacity building, hygiene education and sanitation as well as project management. He said the project component integrates water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion to ensure system sustainability and effectiveness in reducing water borne and water related diseases.  
The lack of public toilets is having a serious health concern for the people and the inclusion of the construction of over 4 thousand toilets will reduce transmission of pathogens to a large extent while incessant street urination by both males and females will be addressed. The toilets are vital components in creating sustainable, accessible and inclusive cities.
The governor said the state will ensure the speedy completion of the project for water to be supplied to end-users and improve the environmental cleanliness. “I understand that the project is expected to be completed by 2017, however, I urge the Task Manager of African Development Bank to speedily review and clear document forwarded to them, so that we can complete the project within two years. At the state level, we are putting machinery in place to promptly grant all approvals that the project management team may require.”
The Country Director of ADB Uthman Dore said the project when completed will help in reducing water-borne diseases and poverty while a management consultant will be employed to ensure water supply.
Emir of Zaria Dr. Shehu Idris said the project has demonstrated the effort of the government in solving the perennial water problem being faced by the people and “is a pointer to the enhancement socio-economic development.”
He said several intervention measures were taken in the past to address water and sanitation matters in the town but the ongoing work seemed most feasible.
 He urged leaders to ensure that people live in peace, adding that the effective way of ensuring peace is “justice and fairness.”