Leaking Water Pipes in Yaounde

Some neighbourhoods in Yaounde have been experiencing water shortages as a result of damaged infrastructure.

Inadequate water supply is a major source of worry in big towns and cities in Cameroon today. In Yaounde, it is commonplace to find water leaking from street pipes in some neighbourhoods for weeks on end, leaving such streets continuously wet even in the dry season. Some neighbourhoods in the city have therefore been experiencing water shortages as a result of damaged infrastructure.

A good example is the Lycée Biyem-Assi neighbourhood where a pipe got burst recently and water kept flowing uncontrollably. As a result, some parts of the neighbourhood are deprived of drinking water. Inhabitants of the area make use of the opportunity to fetch water for free. People who live in nearby neighbourhoods where there is no potable water also fetch from the leaking pipe.

Patricia, an inhabitant of the area said the water flowing from the damaged pipe causes a lot of noise. Marie Thérèse A. on her part, said she fetches water from the broken pipe because there is no water in her neighbourhood. The reasons given for leaking pipes and water metres are many and varied. In most cases, water pipes are damaged by vehicles especially in areas where they are exposed on the surface. Also in some areas, the infrastructure is damaged by vandals who believe it is the best way to resolve water shortages.

A source at "La Camerounaise des Eaux" the water distribution company, said if problems of leaking pipes persist, it is because the company is not informed. He explained that the company has 850 km of infrastructure in the country and it is impossible to have workers on the field to inspect the infrastructure at the same time. He said the company works in collaboration with the public. So, whenever they are informed of any breakdown, the distribution and maintenance service goes to the field immediately.

"Whatever be the case, repair work usually lasts a day. If the work will take more than a day, we inform the public," he said. He regretted that some people prefer fetching water from damaged pipes and metres instead of informing the company. This, according to him, is to the detriment of the company. "About 350 cubic litres of water are lost everyday because we are not informed. This could be used to supply many homes," he said.