- LWSC’s 70-year-old water transmission lines struggle to meet rising demand, causing frequent ruptures and leaks.
- LWSC’s annual deficit is $6-7 million due to overstaffing, high energy costs, and low revenue generation.
- LWSC is working to increase water production, repair damaged infrastructure, and reduce reliance on government subsidies.
Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) Managing Director Mohammed Ali has raised the alarm over the 70-year-old water transmission lines that supply Monrovia and other areas. He noted that the ageing infrastructure struggles to keep up with rising demand, causing frequent ruptures and leaks.
Speaking on OK FM’s Morning Rush Show, Ali stressed that the old lines cannot handle the current supply pressure. “Our water transmission lines are about 70 years old. The growing population and demand are overwhelming them. This directly impacts our operations,” Ali said.
Ali outlined other issues, including overstaffing, which pushes the monthly wage bill above $350,000. Meanwhile, customer revenue remains between $150,000 and $175,000. He added that the LWSC spends over $700,000 annually on energy for its White Plains facility and about $1 million on water purification. As a result, the corporation faces a yearly deficit of $6 to $7 million, forcing it to rely on subsidies from the Ministry of Finance.
Ali called for reforms to reduce LWSC’s dependence on government funding. He pointed out that low employee motivation and inadequate infrastructure have hindered operations in the past. Several substations remained non-functional, and irregular electricity from the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) disrupted the water supply.
He also highlighted long-neglected sewage lines in Monrovia and nearby areas. The Bushrod Island sewage system, in particular, has suffered from years of neglect. Additionally, LWSC’s warehouses in Fiamah, Sinkor, and its headquarters face severe deterioration.
The LWSC has taken steps to improve water supply by increasing daily production from 4-5 million gallons to 10.4 million gallons, mainly by extending engineers’ work hours. However, Ali admitted that challenges persist, especially with the damaged city reservoir, which limits the water supply to central Monrovia. Once holding one million gallons, the reservoir is undergoing repairs after a government assessment and discussions with the World Bank. The repair costs will exceed $40,000.
Despite these hurdles, Ali remains optimistic about LWSC’s progress. He said LWSC now follows regular water supply schedules in central Monrovia and has reduced leaks in key pipelines. The corporation hired a vendor to provide water treatment chemicals on credit and worked with the LEC to ensure stable electricity for water treatment facilities.
“The first day we resumed water supply, leaks occurred everywhere. Our next step was to reduce them. At least we can supply water on a set schedule daily,” Ali said.
Ali urged continued investment in infrastructure and reforms to ensure LWSC can provide reliable and sustainable water to Monrovia and beyond.