SOUTH SUDAN: Torit water system rehabilitated, service now over 80% complete
The town of Torit, in the Eastern Equatoria state of South Sudan, now has a more efficient drinking water supply system. Recently rehabilitated by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), the system now supplies over 80% of the population.
Torit's drinking water supply system was re-commissioned on July 22, 2024 after more than two years of work, by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) and the German government, which provided $2 million in funding viaGerman Development Agency (KfW), and technical assistance through the German Agency for International Development Cooperation (GIZ). As far as technical assistance is concerned, this specifically involved technical training to ensure the system's operation and maintenance.
Over 80% of the city's population now has access to clean water 24/7. "Without clean, safe water, vulnerable communities in Southern Sudan will lose the fight against poverty and water-borne diseases. We are delighted that 43,800 people, mainly women and children, will benefit from clean, safe water thanks to this project.This will help improve sanitation and hygiene in households, health establishments and schools", said Hamida Lasseko.said Hamida Lasseko, Unicef's representative in Southern Sudan, at the re-commissioning of Torit's drinking water system.
A solar-powered system
According to Unicef, which implemented the project, Torit's improved water supply system comprises two boreholes equipped with solar-powered submersible pumps.solar-powered submersible pumps, a 25-kilometer pipeline distribution network and an additional 500m3 reservoir, increasing total storage capacity by 50%.
The project has also added 25 new water kiosks to the existing eight in Torit, enabling more people to be reached and reducing the distance to water collection points. The existing system has also been fitted with a chlorine dosing mechanism to minimize the risk of contamination during collection and storage, thus ensuring water safety.
Work to rehabilitate and expand Torit's drinking water supply system began in November 2022 and is being deployed in two phases.
Source: www.afrik21.africa/
