Addu Mayor bemoans failure to solve water shortage
"It's an excuse to say it's the previous management. The people changed it because they didn't like the way things were previously".
By
Ahmed Mizyal
A pump at the RO plant in Addu had a problem and water service was disrupted in late March. The issue dragged on and even at the beginning of May there was still no permanent solution.
“The problem of water supply to connected islands in Addu has not been resolved for nearly a month and the complaints of the people are increasing,” Addu Mayor Ali Nizar said in a post on 'X'
"And it is a management-handicap to take so long to find a solution. I ask the Fenaka management to find a quick solution to this problem”.
'Now produces half of the water needed'
Sharing details of the issue with Atoll Times, Addu City Council Hithadhoo Korovai Constituency MP Ibrahim Shinaz said the issue has not been resolved because they have not yet received a replacement pump.
"All I know is that there were two pumps. One pump broke down and half of the water needed for the connected islands is now produced by the remaining one," he said.
According to Shinaz:
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The connected islands require 700 metric tons of water per day
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Since the pump broke down, it now produces about 300 metric tons of water
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Water reserves have also declined; there used to be enough water in the reserve for 2-4 hours, but now the reserve also runs out within an hour
Around 90% of the households in the connected islands have access to well water, but in some areas, well water is not suitable for use.
"People are suffering a lot. Water is available randomly. It can be available for an hour and then six hours later after getting cut off. Then we have to rely on mineral water," he said.
A quick solution is needed; its a government responsibility
While the problem remains unresolved due to lack of a pump, that is all Shinaz himself knows, and has not been informed of much else.
“What I know is that the pump would be available six weeks after Fenaka pays for the new pump. What I don't know is if they have paid or not”.
Water is a basic service and the interruption of such a necessity has caused great suffering to the public.
In December 2023 also water service was interrupted in Addu’s connected islands. After providing a temporary solution, Fenaka said then that the main reason for the water cut was that some of their work had not been done on schedule.
Fenaka had also noted the following then:
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Not having prioritised scheduled repairs
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Failure to comply with the report of the utility regulatory authority inspecting the system and resolving the issues
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Water cut shortly after the plant faced a problem as adequate water storage was not installed
Shinaz said the maintenance work has not been paid attention to by any previous government. However, he pointed out that, "Blaming the previous government is only an excuse”.
“When something happens, why don’t we solve it instead of blaming it on the previous government. This is something that is such a burden to the people,” he said.
"It's an excuse to say it's the previous management. The people changed it because they didn't like the way things were previously. We handed the task over to them because they said they could do it”.
Atoll Times contacted Fenaka Managing Director Muaz Mohammed Rasheed to find out how long the Addu water problem will take to be resolved and whether a new pump has been received. The company's PR department said details would be announced soon. However, no such details were available to date of this article.
'The new project gives hope; It's a permanent solution'
The Addu water system’s upgrade was handed over to the government water company MWSC on 14 April 2024. It is a project worth over MVR 282 million. The project has been given one-year for completion.
Under the project, Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo and Feydhoo will have:
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A laboratory, a control room, a workshop, office and storage space will be constructed to accommodate 3 RO plants
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Distribution centres to be set up
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Two RO plants capable of generating 1,500 tonnes of water per day will be installed with an energy recovery system
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13,000 tonnes of storage to be added to store water
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6 Borehole may be drilled
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100 kW solar to be installed
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Provide equipment to the laboratory
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A completely new brine outflow will be set up
Shinaz believes that this project will provide a permanent solution. He, however, expressed concern over the fact that work on the project has yet to begin and said that "agreements can be signed one on top of the other".
