24% of water lost in distribution of potable water

Committee members monitoring leasing contracts and concessions for potable water supply in urban and suburban areas in Cameroon met in Yaounde yesterday, October 15, 2015, to evaluate the progress of investment projects.

Information garnered from the sidelines of the discussions revealed that 24 per cent of water produced in the country is lost in the course of distribution. Sources blame this on breakdowns in distribution infrastructure, billing fraud and errors, repairs and maintenance works, and the use of water during fire accidents.

The Regional Director of Camerounaise des Eaux, CDE, for the Centre, Félix Zogo Manga, reassured the public that though the rate at which water is lost in the course of distribution was worrisome, the distribution company was taking structural measures to overcome the challenges.

The CDE General Manager, Brahim Ramdam, chaired yesterday’s meeting on behalf of the committee president, the Minister of Water Resources and Energy, Basile Atangana Kouna.

He stated that government is already implementing its leasing and concession contracts with CDE and CAMWATER with focus on supplying potable water to urban and peri-urban areas. Brahim Ramdam assured that government was respecting its financial commitments.

Government, Cameroon Water Utilities Corporation, CAMWATER and CDE officials, all members of the committee, were debriefed on the 2012-2014 audit report of potable water supply in urban areas. Prominent for discussion was the performance of water treatment plants, the maintenance of infrastructure and operational equipment, the replacement of equipment and projects.

Others were the installation and replacement of old pipes, understanding the nitty gritty of losing water, etc. The committee also assessed the priority roadmap, excerpts of the CAMWATER Master Plan, the progress report of the CAMWATER-CDE investment programme as at September 30, 2015 as well as the state of advancement of the concession action plan between CAMWATER and CDE.