By Joseph Edegbo
Owners of boreholes have been advised to subject their water to quality analysis before consumption to avoid water related illnesses.
Some experts from the Kaduna State Water Corporation gave the advice Wednesday in Kaduna at the Second Media Roundtable on Climate and Environmental Project of the Africa Media Development Foundation, AMDF.
The experts, Aminu Soba and Engr. Hamaq Ndandok explained that underground water sourced from saturated zone should not be considered to be totally pure for consumption.
Underground water is sourced from beneath the land surface through cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock which contain some particles that could be harmful to health, hence the need to be certified.
The duo disclosed that the water being treated and supplied to the public from the Corporation’s Treatment Plants is of global approved standard.
So, should anything contrary observed by consummers, that might have occured in the transmission through either the ageing pipe or the sub standard pipe connecting water to homes.
They stated that the cost of water treatment by the Corporation during the raining season is much higher than the dry season due to the volume of wastes including industrial, flooded into the rivers and dams which are the sources of their intake.
“While we use 12 metric tonnes of alum daily during dry season, we now use 45 metric tonnes”
They also spoke of population explosion and poor power generation as part of reasons for the inability of the Corporation to perform optimally or to cover most parts of the Kaduna metropolis.
Speaking on the Devastation of Climate Change On Water Sources, the duo noted that human activities including deforestation through farming by communities living along water ways have caused a lot of havoc to water sources resulting in the drying up of some Dams in the State.
Other factors include erosion and sand mining.
Meanwhile, a design of a multi million Naira Dam for the provision of about 300 million gallons of water per day is almost completed.
The dam which is situated at Isi, Southern part of the State, will cover a radius of 0ne hundred kilometers in water supply.
The construction is to be borne by the Federal Government, while the Treatment Plant would be that of the State and would be carried out simultaneously with pipe laying among others.
On Advocacy, Mr. Benjamin Maigari of AMDF, who also spoke on the effect of Climate Change reminded the media that their information must be targeted at a particular group with a view to changing the narration.
All this, he said, are aimed at a call to action .
“Educate the community and the government on each other’s commitment. Identify the issue which you must have knowledge about”.
He cited an example of this year’s rainfall, especially in July when Kaduna supposed to witness daily rainfall but to everybody’s surprise, contrary is the case, attributing this to climate change.
Earlier, Ag. Executive Director of the AMDF, Mrs. Sekyen Dadik who gave the overview of the organization, reiterated its commitment to training and building the capacity of Journalists in various fields and also expose them to grant opportunities.
It also assist them to have a network to share knowledge and also bring experts to discuss issues and identify where journalists could come in as being done in the case of the Roundtable.
It could be recalled that a group of Climate and Environmental reporters championed by the AMDF in 2019, undertook a tour of some areas in Kaduna and brought succour to communities affected by climate change through their reportage.
