Water scarcity hits Jos again

Water scarcity has hit Jos, capital of Plateau State, again following the disconnection of electricity supply to the main treatment plant in the state.
Daily Trust gathered that the disconnection was due to N120 million debt owed the electricity company.
Spokesman of the state Water Board, Mr. Nangor Ndam, said the Yakubu Gowon treatment plant at Ratt Dam in Bukuru area of Jos-South, which supplies major parts of the state capital, has not treated or supplied water for over a week now. 
“It is more than a week now since we last treated and supplied from the main treatment plant,” Ndam said, blaming the development on the disconnection by the electricity distribution company.
“They came and disconnected supply to the treatment plant because of accumulated electricity bills,” he said.
The plant, which was constructed to treat and supply 90 cubic metres of water per day, serves major sections of Jos, including Bukuru, headquarters of Jos South, and its environs and Jos Central, headquarters of Jos North, and environs. 
Other areas served by the plant are Dadin Kowa, Zarmaganda, Anguldi, Vom, Trade Centre, New Abuja, Kunfang, Federal and State Low Cost Housing Estates, Holse, Tudun Wada, GRA, Joseph Gomwolk Way, Kabon, Utan, Jankwanu, Farin Gada, Rukuba,, PRTV, West of Mines, and Nasarawa-Gwom. 
Residents of the areas lamented hardship experienced due to the situation.
“The situation has been like that for about two weeks now. We have not had water, so you can imagine the hardship we are facing,” a mother of four said.
“We now queue at centres to buy from water vendors,” she added.
Another woman, who introduced herself as Mrs. Martha, said the family relied on tankers, who sold   the water at huge cost.
She said the tanker operators were taking advantage of scarcity of petroleum products and the water problem. 
“They come around with water from sources we don’t trust. So, we have decided to use their water only for washing only. For cooking and drinking, we buy sachet water,” Mrs. Martha said. 
The board’s spokesman however added  that the treatment plant at British-America Junction is still treating and supplying water, “although its area of coverage is small.” He acknowledged that “smart” vendors are taking advantage of the scarcity to sell untreated water.
“As a result of that, the board now issues them document after they lift to show to their customers at the point of sale. We are advising residents to always insist on seeing documents from the Water Board before they buy,” Ndam said.