5th July, 2017
The Lagos Water Corporation, LWC, has faulted a report in one of the dailies alleging that diesel was discovered flowing from a Lagos water tap in Victoria Island area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
The incident was reported by a retired Federal Permanent Secretary; Mrs. Francesca Emanuel that diesel was flowing on No. 10, Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, home of Mrs. Lydia Onafeko.
Managing Director, LWC, Engr. Muminu Badmus in a statement on Tuesday said the LWC Zonal Distribution team of Victoria Island visited the house to investigate the source of intrusion of diesel into the service pipe that supplied water to the above mentioned property.
Badmus said: “it is established that the said property is sandwiched by two generating sets, one of which during servicing and sometimes filling up the fuel tank discharges diesel and black oil into the drainage system in front of the property”.
He explained further that the drainage was blocked and filled up with black oil, diesel, empty pet bottles and other filthy items, adding that prior to this incident, there was an activity of digging and trust boring across the frontage of the property, carried out by a contractor of one of the telecommunication companies in the State.
“The activity infringed on the service pipe of the property, thereby creating an opening through which diesel and other liquid material intruded into the service pipe, all these were sucked along with LWC’s water each time the pumping machine is switch on to supply water to the house.
“As part of LWC’s efforts to further establish facts, water samples were obtained from other properties in that street and found to be clean, clear, odourless and fit for human consumption.
“It is confirmed that the problem is a localized problem, peculiar to the property which is polluted as a result of intrusion of diesel and other substances that gained access to the service pipe through an opening caused by an activity of the telecommunication outfit in that area,” he said.
According to Badmus, all efforts of the LWC official to trace and determine the point of intrusion was met with seething resistance as the owner of the property prevented the team from breaking her concrete floor under which the service pipe was laid.
“However, the findings are clear indication that the water supply to Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island is good and safe for all human use,” he said.
Badmus urged Lagosians to stop laying their water service pipes inside drainage as this could result to water pollution and thereby causing water borne diseases.
He warned contractors working on Lagos roads to desist from infringing on LWC Mains and Service pipes, as the state government would put all necessary instruments in place to stem such act.
While assuring the public on the quality of water produced by LWC, Badmus expressed the commitment of the agency in providing potable and uninterrupted water supply across the State, as LWC water is conformed to acceptable standard.