Water cut ‘vital’

 By MOUA OMOA

WATER supply disruption in Port Moresby is caused by routine repair and maintenance work at the Mt Eriama treatment plant, according to Eda Ranu.

The company’s environment and quality control manager Michael Yagro said work was being carried out on the largest and oldest sedimentation tank equipment at Mt Eriama in Bomana.

He said technical officers were repairing some very old machinery including pumps and a 60-year-old metal sludge rake used to clear the sludge removing muddy water into an outlet.

Yagro said they had been given 10 days to complete the repair work and water rationing is to ensure they maintain tank levels with only two of the small sedimentation tanks operating.

“There have been numerous complaints from the business community and residents over water disruptions,” he said.

“But this maintenance and repair work is vital to avoid the machinery breaking down altogether leading to major water problems in the city.”

He said the current water supply had been reduced to around 145 mega-litres. The normal volume is 160 mega litres to supply the whole city per day.

He said machines which pumped and cleared water had been working non-stop for years and were beginning to show signs of aging and oil leakages.

“This is the first time we have shut down the sedimentary tank 3 (largest tank of the three purification tanks holding 120 mega litres of water).”

 to repair the pump and the metal sludge rake which was installed in 1965.

“We should receive the spare parts from Bishops Brothers anytime and as soon as they arrive our technical officers will be working on the repairs day and night to ensure there is normal water supply is restored.”

Operations Supervisor NinkamaMorea at the Mt Eriama water treatment plant urged consumers to be patient.