The Mauritanian National Sanitation Office has continued its efforts to pump out rainwater from various areas in Nouakchott, the capital city of Mauritania. For the second consecutive day, teams from the office have been working to remove rainwater from several key intersections and main streets in the three Nouakchott wilayas. This initiative aims to mitigate the effects of recent rainfall and ensure smooth traffic flow and pedestrian movement.
The intervention comes as work progresses on the first phase of the sanitation network project for the (A) pole, which includes a comprehensive system for draining rainwater and treating wastewater. The project covers several districts, including Tfreagh Zina, Lkhras, Sebkha, and parts of the Port and Tiarat districts. Once completed, the project is expected to enhance Nouakchott's capacity to drain rainwater and treat wastewater, reducing the phenomenon of water accumulation.
The Mauritanian News Agency monitored the intervention operations on the ground, where dozens of tanker trucks and high-capacity water pumps were deployed to affected areas and key intersections. The agency also gathered feedback from several supervisors overseeing the pumping operations, as well as citizens, on the progress of the interventions and the results achieved.
According to Safia Minta El Hadi, head of a department at the National Sanitation Office, the intervention plan focuses on opening main roads, intersections, and areas surrounding hospitals and vital facilities during the first hours of rainfall. She added that around 90% of pumping operations rely on discharging tanker trucks into the existing sanitation network.
Mohamed Abdallah Ould Mohamed Salem, head of the works monitoring department at the National Sanitation Office, explained that the office began implementing a field action plan immediately after the rainfall, distributing technical teams to various sensitive and affected points in Nouakchott. He emphasized that field teams work around the clock to facilitate traffic movement for citizens.
At the local level, Mohamed Ould El Aqeb, a representative of the Arafat municipality, stated that the municipality took action in coordination with the sanitation authorities to control water accumulation in public squares and streets. He praised the ongoing cooperation between the municipality and the National Sanitation Office.
Several Nouakchott residents praised the efforts made by the concerned authorities to pump out rainwater and remove water accumulations from streets and main intersections. While they appreciated the rapid intervention, some expressed hope for the completion of the sanitation network project, which they believe will provide a more sustainable solution to the issue of rainwater accumulation.
Key points
- The Mauritanian National Sanitation Office continues to pump out rainwater from various areas in Nouakchott to ensure smooth traffic flow and pedestrian movement.
- The office's efforts are part of a larger project to enhance Nouakchott's sanitation infrastructure and mitigate the effects of rainfall.
- Residents have praised the efforts made by the authorities but express hope for the completion of the sanitation network project.
