Monrovia – The Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) with support from the African Development Bank (AFDB) on Monday, July 23, 2018 launched an initiative aimed at connecting over 3000 communities with safe drinking water.
The LWSC Social Connection Project is earmarking the New Georgia and Soul Clinic Communities, which are located in the Township of Gardnerville and the Municipal City of Paynesville respectively.
Speaking at the launch of the program, LWSC Acting Managing Director, Mr. Dan Saryee explained that the entity’s new management team is focused on expanding its distribution networks to about 3050 homes in three communities initially and ensure that other communities where the entity has not reached over the years be connected with safe drinking water.
The launch of the LWSC Social Connection Program was held on Monday, July 23, 2018, at the entity’s Fiamah Sewer Station in Monrovia.
He said: ‘’Not only that will we just be expanding; the part that is important is to ease the burden of our people so that they can be connected with safe drinking water.Our decision and our strategies are informed by the Government of the Coalition For Democratic Change (CDC) pro-poor agenda which intends to ensure that services are accessed by almost all of our people consistent with that agenda.’’
He added that the project affect about 2,050 communities in Montserrado County, 400 communities in Buchannan, Grand Bassa County, 200 in Grand Gedeh and 200 in Kakata, Margibi County.
Saryee averred that the social connection will lessen the burden of money for people needing water to be connected with safe drinking water , stressing that the program is being structured in a repayment form and that those benefitting from the connection will sign what he called a consent form as an agreement enter with the LWSC .
The LWSC acting boss furthered that the first group of people to be connected are required to pay the corporation within 12 months and that the generated money will be used as a revolving funds that he said will reinvested into other communities.
Saryee added that the entity has a team that will be implementing the program and there will be engagement with the communities including awareness.
‘’ The Water and Sewer is not for fun. We are here to expand and make sure that safe drinking water gets everywhere. We will look at Monrovia at a greater level. We want communities to be honest with us because it is when you pay back that we will be able to expand into other communities. This initiative is to soften the burden associated with connection ‘’ he, among other things said.
Also speaking, LWSC Deputy Managing Director for Administration, Mr. Moseray Momoh, termed the corporation as a public entity responsible for the supply of urban waters in the 15 counties.
Momoh stated that the program is an opportunity for those who have not been connected to have safe drinking water adding that it will be on the basis of indirect payment.
He added that the Social Connection Program will be done in an equitable way that will afford everyone access to safe drinking water.
For his part, LWSC Sales and Marketing Director, Mr. Marzer Jarbbah, stated that the program is intended to increase the entity customers and create the opportunity for people outside of the corporation to have access to safe drinking water.
“This program is strongly being supported by the African Development Bank (AFDB) and it was principally designed to have many of our people connected.