Post a comment The Managing Director of the Guma Valley Water Company (GUMA), Mariwan Kallon, has detailed ongoing efforts to tackle persistent water supply challenges in Freetown, particularly during the dry season when demand significantly exceeds supply.
Speaking at the weekly government press conference held at the Miatta Civic Center, Director Kallon noted that water scarcity remains a seasonal issue. He highlighted that the Guma Dam, constructed in 1961 to serve a population of about 500,000, now provides water to over 1.5 million people.
“During the dry season, we must carefully manage the available supply to ensure continuity throughout the year,” he said.
A major concern raised during the press conference was non-revenue water—treated water lost through leakages, illegal connections, and system inefficiencies. MD Kallon explained that both physical losses, such as pipe bursts, and commercial losses, including meter bypassing, continue to affect distribution. “If it is not properly managed, and if we lack the technical capacity, the desired results will not be achieved,” he stated.
He further revealed that about 10,000 water meters are ready for installation, with an additional 23,000 expected through support from the World Bank. GUMA has also shifted to proactive maintenance, investing heavily in infrastructure repairs to prevent system failures.
“In the past three months, over 366 large-capacity water tanks have been installed across Freetown to improve access. The company is also working with law enforcement to curb illegal connections and deploying meters to better monitor usage,” MD Kallon added.
According to GUMA, these interventions are part of a broader strategy to mitigate water scarcity challenges and ensure reliable supply for residents.
