WaterBoard allocates K8m for Lae upgrade

PNG Waterboard (PNGWB) has approved K8 million to revamp the Lae water supply system to ensure that there is continuous and reliable
supply of water to the city.
A total funding of K7, 936,100 was approved during the water utility’s final board meeting last December with approval from its directors.
This announcement was made in a press release received yesterday from PNGWB following water woes experienced in the city during the turn of New Year.
Waterboard said it had identified the problems associated with the Lae water supply from the bore fields to the distribution system and would be focusing on the solutions this year to have a water system that provides continued service.
“We have put together a plan to address these problems from the bore fields all the way to the distribution system and hopefully, will be able to have a more reliable water supply system for Lae by the end of the year,” managing director and chief executive
officer Patrick Amini said.
He said the plan for refurbishment of Lae water supply will include revamping standby power capability, redevelopment of bores, refurbishment of all electrical and mechanical plants and components, setting up telemetry system for monitoring and civil works consisting of pipe work’s realignments to reservoirs.
Mr Amini said one of the main problems has been woes relating to the supply of power and PNGWB was working closely with PNG Power Limited to address this.
Among the solutions is to have standby generators to all bores supplementing those for the transfer pumps and individual standby generators for its seven bores at Taraka, along Independence Drive.