The Guma Valley Water Company is seeking Le32.538 million in government support for its 2027 budget to enhance water supply and expand access across the Western Area of Sierra Leone. This request was made by the company's Managing Director, Ing. Mariwan Kallon, during the Ministry of Finance Bilateral Budget Hearings. The proposed funding will be allocated to several key projects aimed at improving water services.
The funding includes Le4 million as counterpart funding for the Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project (WASHAERP), Le19.0377 million for the development of 45 industrial boreholes, Le7.5 million for the Funkiya-Goderich water supply intervention, and Le2 million for five minor water sources. These interventions aim to increase water production, improve supply resilience, and extend services to underserved communities.
In addition to these new projects, Guma Valley is working on completing several ongoing infrastructure projects. The Allen Town Treatment Plant expansion is nearly 98.85 per cent complete and is expected to significantly increase production capacity from 3.2 million litres per day to 7 million litres per day. This expansion will help meet the growing water demands in the Western Area.
The company is also close to completing the 45-kilometre WASHAERP distribution network, which is 97 per cent complete, and the Mortem and Mongegba works, which stand at approximately 92.67 per cent completion. These projects are crucial for enhancing the water supply infrastructure in the region and ensuring that more communities have access to clean water.
Guma Valley has also highlighted several completed investments, including the expansion of the Babadorie Raw-Water Storage to about 132 million litres, repairs to the Kongo Dam and associated weirs, and the completion of the Angola Water Supply System. The Angola project includes a 3 million-litre-per-day treatment plant, a 2.5 million-litre reservoir, and 45 kilometres of transmission and distribution mains.
The Angola Water Supply System project has provided significant benefits, including about 2,000 customer connections and an estimated 70,000 beneficiaries. Beyond infrastructure development, Guma Valley plans to install approximately 10,000 meters and add around 1,000 new or reactivated customers in 2027. The company aims to achieve 87 percent collection efficiency and reduce non-revenue water to below 40 percent.
Ing. Mariwan Kallon emphasized that the company's focus for FY2027 is to move water services in the Western Area from recovery to greater reliability. The goal is to ensure that investments result in measurable improvements in access and service delivery. The government support sought will be critical in helping Guma Valley achieve these objectives and enhance the overall water supply situation in Sierra Leone.
Key points
- Guma Valley Water Company requests Le32.538 million for 2027 projects to improve water supply and expand access across the Western Area.
- The proposed funding will support projects such as industrial boreholes, water supply interventions, and completion of ongoing infrastructure projects.
- Guma Valley aims to increase water production, improve supply resilience, and extend services to underserved communities with the government support.
