Community drills for water

Main Stories

By JIMMY KALEBE
OVER 300 households of Ward 17 in the Ahi local-level government in Nawaeb, Morobe, have been without water for more than 10 years.
On Friday, at Hocbu village, drilling for water started at this urban community, thanks to Countryman Drilling and Water Services Ltd and partners.
Church elder and community representative Solomon Theophil, who has lived there for over 15 years, said the community had never received any government services despite being close to Lae.
“There has been no water system in place despite people residing here,” he said. “People collect water from Bumbu River, tanks or walk some 2km just to fetch clean drinking and cooking water.”
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in 2007 discovered water seven metres underground.
Theophil looked for support to extract water for community use, after several other partners later confirmed that there was sufficient water underground to supply the entire community.
He said non-government organisations were currently taking the lead in the project.
“We are now paying for pipes and other accessories needed to extract water,” Theophil said.
“The community will still have to build tank stands and more pipes and accessories to complete the project.
“Much of the funding towards the construction of the first phase of the project comes from the people themselves.”