Water aid eyed in sewerage deal

THE K96 million funding by China to improve the Goroka town water supply will also be used to fix the sewerage problem in town, an official says.
Goroka Urban Local Level Government manager Harold Abori, has assigned engineers to work with water technical experts from China on the project.
Abori and Eastern Highlands administrator Samson Akunai welcomed the team from China who arrived this week.
China and Papua New Guinea signed an agreement for the K96 million funding to upgrade the town water supply in preparation for Apec Summit meeting in Goroka next year.
“The funding will address water and sewerage issues currently affecting Goroka town,” he said.
“The water system was designed and built in the ’50s and ’60s to supply 10,000 cubic metres of water for a small population.
“In 2003, the Japanese International Corporation Agency funded an extension of the plant to produce 12,000 cubic metres of water now feeding a population of over 50,000.” He said that due to the high demand for water, there was a capacity problem, thus forcing them to do water rationing.
“We need a water treatment plant with a capacity to produce 40,000 to 50,000 cubic metres of treated water daily.”