Osun State government has awarded and kicked-off a N2 billion full rehabilitation work of Ede Water Works, which supplies over 70 per cent of the water needs of the state.

The government has also set aside another N2.2 billion in the 2013 budget to replace obsolete pipes across the state.

Addressing a press conference signalling the commencement of the rehabilitation project, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Mrs Tawa Williams, said the rehabilitation work would be “wide-ranging and ultimately revamp the water works and transform it into what it was originally.” Upon full completion,the project will not only meet the water requirements of a great majority of citizens of the state, it will also present a scenic and environmental beauty, as well as a tourist attraction.She also said arrangements were also near completion for the Iraqi government, through its embassy in Nigeria, to complement the rehabilitation process with the ultimate plan of exporting badly needed treated bottled water to Iraq.

She emphasised that the Aregbesola administration was committing such a prodigious sum to water “to exterminate the challenge of water-borne diseases which arise essentially because of the absence of effective and efficient portable water. “We cannot be talking about sound health care delivery system without adequate water supply for the citizenry,” she said.

She said that the project, which would be completed within 12 months would raise the production capacity of the water works to close to 100 per cent from the present 30 per cent

She added that the government was in the process of procuring 100 water tankers that would be supplying water to various houses in the state as a bridging process before the completion of the water works and with a view to also frontally solving water needs in other areas of the state.

In the rehabilitation process, Williams said that two additional low-lift pump would be installed with twelve high-lift pump, while additional 1500KVA generator has now been provided for the low-lift station, just as 1000KVA generator has also been provided for the low-lift.
William further stated that there will be exhaustive repairs of four-unit clarifiers and other ancilliary equipment and rehabilitation of the 16 filter beds.

She added: “We are also supplying more dozing pumps and brand new Chlorinators with all pipe work meticulously rehabilitated.

“There will also be rejigging of all civil structure, beautification of the environment and regeneration of the staff quarters to elevate staff morale. The restructuring of the power generation system and the modernisation of the power sub-station will include the procurement of two additional transformer and procurement of 33KV outdoor switchgear system”, She said.

The Special Adviser reiterated that the government is on course in its strategy to ensure that every resident in the state enjoy access to potable water supply.

With a view to ensure the sustainability of the investment being made by the government on potable water supply, William appealed to citizens of the state to partner with the government by paying their water rates promptly to sustain government’s water initiatives.

Ipinle Osun a dara o...

Nice one Ogbeni. 2014 all the way.

Good