A high-level delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB), led by Acting Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, Dr Abdul Kamara, has inspected the progress of the Freetown Water Supply and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project (WASHAERP) at the Guma Valley Water Company’s Babadorie Raw Water Storage Facility in Regent, Freetown.

The inspection visit, conducted on Monday, 20 July 2026, enabled the delegation to assess the rehabilitation and expansion of the ageing raw water storage infrastructure, engage with project engineers and management, and review the expected impact of the project on water security in Greater Freetown.

Welcoming the delegation, the Managing Director of Guma Valley Water Company, Ing. Mariwan Kallon, expressed appreciation to the African Development Bank and its development partners for their continued support to Sierra Leone’s water sector. He described the project as a major investment that will improve access to safe and reliable water, particularly for mountain communities that have historically experienced severe water shortages during the dry season.

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According to Kallon, the project addresses longstanding challenges caused by limited raw water storage capacity, which previously resulted in frequent water rationing despite abundant rainfall during the wet season. He noted that the expanded storage infrastructure is expected to significantly improve water availability for communities including Regent, Babadorie, Gloucester, Leicester, IMATT and Hill Station.

The Babadorie component of the WASHAERP, financed by the African Development Bank at a cost exceeding US$7 million, has rehabilitated the existing circular raw water reservoir, increasing its storage capacity from 60,000 cubic metres to 72,000 cubic metres. In addition, nine new steel raw water storage tanks with a combined capacity of 60,000 cubic metres have been constructed.

The completed works have increased the facility’s total raw water storage capacity to approximately 132,000 cubic metres, a development expected to provide a more reliable water supply to about 90,000 residents in the mountain communities of the Western Area.

Following the inspection, Dr Kamara commended the quality of work undertaken by Guma Valley Water Company and reaffirmed the African Development Bank’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s efforts to improve water and sanitation infrastructure.

He emphasised that access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right and described investments in the sector as central to the Bank’s development agenda. While acknowledging the significant progress made in expanding raw water storage capacity, he noted that further investments would be required to increase water treatment capacity to ensure the full benefits of the project are realised.

Dr Kamara also praised the Government of Sierra Leone for its commitment to implementing critical infrastructure projects that improve the lives of citizens, adding that discussions on future financing opportunities for the sector would continue.

Community representatives welcomed the project, describing it as a transformative intervention that will improve water security, sanitation and public health. Speaking on behalf of beneficiary communities, Chairman of the Water Resources Committee for Ward C, Councillor Mendi Bangura, recalled the hardships residents had endured during previous dry seasons, when women and children travelled long distances in search of water, exposing themselves to health risks and disrupting education and livelihoods.

He said the project would help reduce persistent water shortages, improve sanitation, curb waterborne diseases and provide thousands of residents with reliable access to safe drinking water.

The inspection formed part of the African Development Bank delegation’s broader engagement with the Government of Sierra Leone and implementing agencies to monitor the progress of Bank-financed projects and strengthen collaboration on future investments in water, sanitation and other strategic infrastructure.

The Babadorie Raw Water Storage Facility is one of the flagship components of the Freetown Water Supply and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project, which also includes the rehabilitation of water infrastructure, transmission pipelines and distribution networks aimed at improving water supply reliability across the Western Area.

Upon completion of the expanded storage facilities, Guma Valley Water Company expects a significant reduction in dry-season water rationing, strengthening water security and improving access to sustainable water services for thousands of households across the mountain communities of Freetown.