Mt Hagen getting K30mil water and sewerage project

The National Main Stories

By ELIAS LARI
A K30 million water supply and sewerage project for Mt Hagen was launched on Friday by Water PNG.
Problems of water supply and sewerage, which have long dogged Mt Hagen, will finally be attended to.
The project launching was attended by Mt Hagen MP and Minister for Public Enterprise and State Investments William Duma, and Water PNG chief operating officer Billy Imar.
The projects includes:

  • The reservoir rehabilitation of the existing 2.4 megalitres at Kaiwe;
  • an additional 6ML reservoir, the Hati bore;
  • rehabilitation works to the sewage pump station at Hagen Secondary School and Kimininga Police Barracks;
  • sewage treatment plant rehabilitation;
  • desludging; and
  • Developing a master plan for water and sewerage services.

Duma welcomed the project in his electorate, adding that with the city authority in place, this project would be very beneficial.
He said these were important projects for the people and city.
“As the MP for Hagen, I welcome this project, which will relieve the struggles my people faced for years,” Duma said.
Imar said Water PNG could have attended to these issues in the past, however, it could not do so until now for various reasons.
Project consultant engineer Thomas Daki, from the SoBigoM Engineering Solutions Ltd, said the project was vital for Mt Hagen.
“This project is small but very high impact because it touches people’s health and the environment. It is part of the key utility services that support social and economic development and improves standard of living in the city.”
Daki said Water PNG and contractors had invested over K200,000 in safety of the workers in the project. “Water PNG sought Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) permit to operate the rehabilitation work,” he said. “This will solve the problem faced by landowners at Warakum sewage pond, and address water supply issues in the city.”
Daki said people of Mt Hagen had missed out on good water and sewerage services for 15 years.