Taps run dry in Madang

By FRANK RAI
The beautiful town of Madang has been hit by a serious water problem in the last two weeks.
And residents at the township have claimed that the constant “water supply cut” was posing a serious health risk, where residents said there was fear of an “outbreak” of diseases.
Madang residents said yesterday that they were having problems with their sewage system in their homes, prompting them to source water elsewhere to flush their toilets everyday.
Some business houses have also said that the water cut was affecting their businesses.
Bogia MP John Hickey also aired his concern on local radio last week saying the problem was serious.
However, PNG Waterboard officers in Madang denied the claims saying there was never a water problem in the last two weeks.
A senior officer with the PNG Waterboard in Madang, who did not want to be named, said the comments made by Madang residents were only “mere complaints”.
“We haven’t been facing any water problem – you can talk to the residents in Madang.
“Those claims are from those customers who we had disconnected their water mains due to non payments of bills,” the officer told The National yesterday.
However, it is understood from reliable sources that the Furan Water Supply pump station along Beon Road has been hit with irregular power blackouts, thus, disrupting constant water flow.
Madang town manager Lau Sorum and the health inspectors were not available for comments when contacted yesterday, but several public servants confirmed that they were experiencing similar problems.