Wadi Etba faces water crisis over dilapidated networks and wells
LIBYA – Abu Bakr Mohamed, a notable from the Wadi Etba area, said all parts of the valley are suffering a severe water crisis caused by dilapidated distribution networks, old iron connections and ageing wells, a number of which are unfit for drinking, as the area’s geographical spread widens and residential clusters lie far apart.
Speaking by phone to Libya Al-Ahrar, which broadcasts from Turkey and was followed by Al-Marsad, Abu Bakr said power cuts are a major factor deepening the crisis, adding that some residents receive no drinking water at all and are forced to rely on desalinated water to cope with the shortage.
Limited resources and late solutions
On the efforts of executive bodies, Abu Bakr said the municipal council is doing its utmost to deal with the situation, but its efforts remain limited by a lack of resources.
He added that the water and sanitation company is in contact with the ministries and relevant authorities, but said solutions always come late and are not enough to benefit every area.
Modern networks and drinkable wells are the answer
Abu Bakr stressed that the effective solution lies in building integrated, modern water networks based on approved and properly planned engineering, and in supplying each area with a number of wells fit for drinking that are upgraded regularly, saying networks more than 50 years old cannot be relied on.
He ended with a message to the relevant ministries and the water and sanitation company, urging them to “get to the heart of the problem” by carrying out accurate studies and drilling wells in the areas most in need to secure drinking water for residents.
