CHEERING NEWS: Ogbomoso water scheme rehabilitation completes, test running begins
Khalid ABRAHAM
Barring any last minute glitches, dispensation of portable water will start in Ogbomoso, Oyo state, in a couple of days, ogbomosoinsightonline.com has learnt.
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The Public Relations Officer(PRO) of the Water Corporation of Oyo state, Mr. Kazeem Ogunmola, in a telephone chat Friday morning with ogbomosoinsightonline.com, disclosed test running had commenced in earnest, saying the aim of the test running is to flush out long accumulated dirts in the service pipes.
“In a couple of days, water will flow in Ogbomoso,” Ogunmola assured with tinge of excitement.
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Sources at the Ogbomoso Water Works corroborated the PRO, informing, “test running actually began three days ago.”
A source explained water reached service pipes at Randa area though yet to get to the main reservoir at Osupa area from where the whole metropolis will have access to supply.
Giving reasons why the water could not get to the reservoir yet, which is just about a kilometre away, he said the service pipes are dry because of long use which means the water coming from the dam is branching off to the various networks along the main pipes, adding that only continuous pumping would push water to the reservoir which would need to be cleaned also, before water is fully restored.
He further disclosed the test running had revealed a lot of bursts in the network from Randa area to the dam, saying their repair is what they would set out to carry out now.
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Giving assurance pipe borne water will be restored in a few days, the source said, “the moment the bursts are fixed and test running ends, and water gets to Osupa reservoir, and the work is certified, people will begin to enjoy water flow.”
Asked if the water network would function as of old, the source asserted that would be subject to the functionality of the service lines, that is, if they are not damaged.
“Many pipes might be damaged due to disuse and road construction activities. When the two-lane road constructed in Ogbomoso during the administration of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, pipes were damaged and such things would definitely disrupt the network.
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“Also, the construction of Ogbomoso-Iseyin road which is still ongoing, has come with collateral damages to the pipes. What should have happened is that road contractors carry us along when they construct roads so that damages to service lines could be averted. As an instance a pipe should have been put across the road underground at Randa but that was not done.”
He therefore regretted such oversight would engender damages to tarred roads when repairs of burst pipes are carried out. ”We will have no option if we have to carry out repairs, well paved roads will have to be dug,” the source said.
Meanwhile, it is disclosed repairs of certain categories of service pipes (big sized ones) would have to be undertaken by government while the smaller inches ones would be repaired by the corporation and customers to fully restore the old network; and to new areas, extension would have to be done.
In the meantime, the prospect of restoration of pipe borne water has been creating a buzz of excitement among the populace.
”That is good news. We have had to go through hell to get water for domestic use over the years. You can’t compare government water with the borehole or well. We thank Governor Makinde and our new King for the feat. God bless the King, God bless the Governor,” a resident, Mr. Kayode Adekunle, told Ogbomoso Insight.
Ogbomoso Insight reports that the resuscitation of Ogbomoso water scheme was initiated by the new Soun Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye who consulted the chairman of the Water Corporation of Oyo state Hon. Adeojo Elias, on the way forward.
After extracting assurance from Water Corporation and learning of the cost, the Kabiyesi inspired some patriotic indigenes and a socio-cultural organization to contribute towards the project, which they gladly obliged. The Soun augmented it with his own donation. That paved the way for the rehabilitation to commence.
The Oyo state government also eager, provided the needed technical support and supervision through the Water Corporation, leading to the present state of things.
The Ogbomoso Water Works was commissioned in 1964 by the late Premier of the Western Region Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, following the damming of the Oba River and completion of the water intra-city water networks.
