Water in dam at critical level: CEO

 By STACEY TARURA

THE water level at the Sirinumu Dam remains at a “critical” level  despite the recent rain in Port Moresby – and city residents are advised to continue to use water wisely.

Eda Ranu’s chief operating officer Dr Fifaia Matainaho said measures undertaken to ration water in the city, especially in the settlements had managed to maintain the 155 million litres supply per day.

He said if there was no water rationing, water usage would be 175 million litres a day.

“We have dropped (usage) by 20 million litres and we have been steady since November when we started water rationing,” he said.

“We will continue to maintain this so that we can preserve the dam (water level).”

He said even if it rained for a week, the level at the dam would not be significantly affected.

“The base of the dam and around it has to be saturated first, because the dry season has removed every pore of water underground,” he said.

“According to the historical pattern, it will take almost two months for those areas to be filled and enable us to see the rise in level.”