Water supply chokes under weight of rubbish

By PETER ESILA
A DISRUPTION to water supply in Port Moresby on Friday was a result of debris buildup in Eda Ranu’s treatment facility at Mt Eriama outside Port Moresby.
Eda Ranu managing director Henry Mokono, said that was due to constant rain over the last week.
“What that means is that the level of rubbish has actually gone beyond our tolerance level for the treatment plant to accept,” he said.
“The dirt level, if it surpasses (a certain level) and goes up, then it threatens the treatment facility so our water treatment plant had to shut down.”
Mokono said the dirt level more than trebled last week.
“So water was diverted to hospitals and clinics within the city, these are places within the city we give priorities to when these types of situation comes up, while the rest of the city will go for little water or no water at all,” he said.
Mokono said if the rain continued, it may cause disruptions.
“I think there is still dirt filled up upstream, debris, mud are building up, in Rouna four as well as Rouna one and three,” he said.
“This is a problem that PNG Power, our sister organisation, has to deal with.
“We have been maintaining close dialogue with PNG Power and under the current circumstances we will continue to do that until the entire problem is resolved.”