Paynesville – The Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) and with funding from the World Bank, has launched a $1.48 million emergency water connection project targeting 2,500 households across Greater Monrovia.
By Francis G. Boayue
The project, officially launched on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at the Omega Magisterial Court in Paynesville, is part of the Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP).
It is aimed at providing affordable pipe-borne water to underserved communities including Bushrod Island, Central Monrovia, Southern Paynesville, and Omega.
LWSC Managing Director Mohammed Ali said the project is being implemented by Tengda Construction Ltd., a firm selected through an open and transparent bidding process. He confirmed that the contractor will install household water connections and meters at affordable rates for residents.
Ali emphasized that the service is not free. Residents will be charged 80 Liberian cents per gallon of water consumed. He clarified this in response to past confusion from a 2020 World Bank-funded project, during which many mistakenly assumed water services were provided free of charge.
“This is not a free water initiative,” Ali stated. “People must be informed that they are expected to pay a minimal fee. We ask community leaders and the media to help clarify this to prevent misinformation.”
He also urged residents to ensure their homes have proper internal plumbing to be eligible for connection under the project. The Liberian government, he added, is contributing over $1 million toward the purchase of pipes and meters needed to facilitate the water service expansion.
Ali further noted that the selection of Tengda Construction Ltd. was based on merit and not influenced by politics. “This was a fair, competitive process,” he said, adding that transparency is key to successful project execution.
The emergency water project is a component of the broader Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP), a $40 million World Bank-funded initiative aimed at improving basic services, enhancing climate and flood resilience, and upgrading urban infrastructure in Monrovia.
The LURP spans six years and is designed to support the Government of Liberia in advancing urban planning, strengthening infrastructure, and expanding access to essential services for communities across the capital and surrounding areas.
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