THE Lagos State Government has said it would surpass its water supply feat in 2012, as plans are afoot to boost the availability of the essential household commodity, particularly within the neighborhood of areas designated as blighted.

The state, through its water agency, Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), said there would be significant improvement in water supply in the state reaches even the difficult terrain, courtesy of the new master plan being put in place by the state government.

For quite sometime, attention has been focused on the identified slum areas across the metropolis, with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), concerned citizens tasking government on what they termed “systematic neglect of the slum areas”.

Reviewing its activities in 2012, last week, LWC, unfolded its plan for an improved water supply in 2013.

In what it term as “global plans for 2013” involving the establishment of major water works in different parts of the state are soon to manifest.

To meet the current water demand of 540 million gallons (mgd) per day and the projected demand 733 million gallons per day (mgd) by year 2020, the state, is growing its present capacity of 210 mgd to 745 by year 2020 through its Water Supply Master Plan (LWSMP).

The major water works of Adiyan (70mgd), Iju (45mgd) and Isashi (4mgd) are presently undergoing rehabilitation to bring them back to optimal capacity.  They are set for completion in April 2013.

To boost capacity utilisation at the two major waterworks of Iju and Adiyan, which are jointly responsible for about 90 per cent of water supply to the metropolis, the state government constructed a dedicated 12.15MW power plant in 2010 for continuous power supply, while similar plant is being planned for Lagos Island to serve some strategic areas.

This initiative, according to the Group Managing Director (GMD), Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), Mr. Shayo Holloway, was first of its kind in any water agency in Nigeria.

According to him, Holloway said the plan, in line with the master plan, led to the construction works of Adiyan phase 2 (70mgd), which commenced in November to be completed in 36 months. This, he said, would boost current service delivery to the western axis of the state presently under served, boost supply to Ikorodu Township in the northeastern axis, and enhance present hydraulics in the metropolis.

“The state government is currently working on the expansion of Isashi waterworks from its present four mgd to eight mgd for better service delivery to the growing population of Lagos-Badagry axis, while the construction of the Ota-Ikosi regional water scheme four mgd to serve 11 communities between Ikorodu and Epe will be completed within the first quarter of the year 2013,” said that Holloway, adding that this is a significant attestation of the commitment of the Lagos State government to the provision of potable water to all the residents.

Moreover, Holloway said the three aforementioned major waterworks are supported by 48 mini waterworks (ground water treatment plants), which were severely hampered by erratic power supply from the national grid, with the concomitant effects of causing frequent damage to equipment by surges there from.

To address this challenge, the government is systematically providing power to the mini works through the State Electricity Board from its independent electricity projects.

Under the Master plan, the Odomola regional water scheme (210mgd) is being procured under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. This will serve the South Eastern axis of the state from Epe to Victoria Island, and Ikoyi; whilst six additional water schemes are billed under the same model, noting the GMD, hinted that preliminary studies to this project are currently underway.

From the growing population of Lagos, a city adjudged to be the largest city in sub-Saharan Africa, with a population of over 18 million, with a daily migration of about 1,000 people and the attendant benefit and challenges of a megacity, provision of amenities have been Herculean task, especially, to those areas that are classified a blighted areas.

Under the current dispensation, the slum areas as mentioned in the programme have not been completely ignored. In such areas where laying of water pipes is not feasible due to swampy terrain, the Lagos Water Corporation appoints water vendors with long service connections to serve the inhabitants. These include places such as Otumara, Otto, Badia, Ijora and Ilaje, Bariga, are areas that benefit from such scheme, whilst the government is addressing the upgrading of slums through an appropriate agency.

“As a matter of fact, generator should be a back up, while power supply from PHCN should be the main source. Unfortunately, the reverse has been the case, not minding the prohibitive cost of fuelling these generators”, said LWC GMD, who decried the energy crises in the country.

Explaining further, the financial involvement in making water supply available to the residents, the Executive Director of Operation, Lagos Water Corporation, Mr. Deji Johnson, noted that the art of water supply involved different processes and there were significant costs associated to these processes.

Abstracting source water from rivers or boreholes requires pumps, these of course consume energy, the water then goes through a purification process using propriety chemicals which also has a cost, filters are used to trap and remove particles before final disinfection, using chlorine, takes place. The final water leaves the treatment works using a number of high-lift pumps so it can be consumed at the end user’s tap - all this costs money.”

“The on-going refurbishment of Iju, Adiyan and Isashi water treatment works is also a challenge. These works have reduced their output to allow for the upgrade - as a result our customers have less water than they were used to. My hope is that the refurbishments are concluded soon so our customers can once again benefit from their full capacities.”

He, like his boss, decried the epileptic power supply, a massive challenge to the corporation’s operation, thus it is imperative for consumers to promptly pay their water bills to improve services.

“But notwithstanding the challenges, it is pertinent to state that the Lagos State government is committed to the provision of potable water and sanitation for all areas of the 57 local governments, including the classified slum areas,” assured Holloway.