Tap water reaches Dongbil
The National, Tuesday 16th April 2013
THREE hundred villagers of rural Dongbil village in Tifalmin, Telefomin, now have tap water at their doorsteps, saving them a walk of almost a kilometre up the hills everyday to fetch water for drinking and cooking.
The water supply project launched last Saturday was constructed by Highlands Pacific at a cost of K20,000.
The equipment used was transported from Port Moresby to Tabubil and air-lifted to Tifalmin.
Highlands Pacific community affairs co-ordinator Isaac Suafia said the project would strengthen the company’s good working relationship with the landowners and improve their living standards.
“It is a very significant project delivered to the people of Dongbil,” he said.
“The water supply is from the small reservoir built 1250m from the village and is high up in the mountains.
“The project will also benefit some people from villages such as Fiamok and Busulmin in the Yapsie rural LLG who often come to Tifalmin and Tabubil or Telefomin.
“Previously, people walked a kilometre up and down the mountains to the creek to fetch water and wash and do laundry. But the creeks do not provide good and natural taste often dries up during long periods of dry season.”
He said the project was opened by project geologist Libas Ulaiwi.