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Residents of Makeni City and surrounding communities in Bombali District experienced a disruption in water supply beginning Monday, 26 January 2026, resulting in several days without access to pipe-borne water.
The Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) Bombali District Station Manager, Engineer Emmanuel Fanday Bayoh, has attributed the disruption to the theft of main electrical cables at the company’s primary water station located in Konsho Community, Bombali District.
According to him, the incident occurred as a result of an armed robbery attack that targeted critical infrastructure used to power the water supply system.
Speaking with this medium, Engineer Bayoh explained that the stolen cables are essential for operating pumps that convey water to Makeni City and other parts of Bombali District. He said the loss of these components brought operations at the facility to a halt, leading to the interruption of water services.
The Station Manager assured residents that SALWACO is working to address the problem as quickly as possible. He stated that technical teams have been mobilized to assess the damage and replace the stolen cables, with the aim of restoring steady water supply to affected communities.
Engineer Bayoh further appealed to members of the public to assist in protecting water infrastructure, noting that vandalism and theft of utility equipment have serious consequences for service delivery and public welfare. He also called on security agencies and community leaders to strengthen surveillance around critical facilities to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The disruption has affected households, businesses, and institutions in Makeni and other parts of Bombali District, with many residents forced to seek alternative sources of water.
SALWACO says it will continue to provide updates as repair works progress and has expressed confidence that normal water supply will be restored once the damaged infrastructure is fully replaced.
