Residents of Arua City are battling an acute shortage of water following the breakdown of one of the main distribution and supply lines at Enyau Bridge at Ediofe.
On Thursday, the National Water and Sewerage Cooperation (NWSC) pipelines at the bridge burst cutting off intake and supplies of water to Giligili pumping station in Kasua cell, Ayivu division, and to other areas of the city.
This has however caused water scarcity within the city areas and other parts of Arua District over the past four days. Currently, residents especially women spend hours in long queues and pay exorbitantly in order to fetch water from a few boreholes within homesteads and individual reserve tanks.
Others have resorted to fetching water from the unsafe Enyau River putting the lives of their families at risk.
Vanessa Shalom, a resident of Academy Cell in Ayivu Division says that the situation has forced her to trek for over one and in search of water from other alternative sources. According to Shalom, performing her household chores has become difficult due to the absence of water.
Fortunate Awekonimungu, from Ozivu in Ayivu Division explains that the water shortage has compelled people to start drinking unsafe water which they used not to fetch. She appeals to the National Water and Sewerage Cooperation-NWSC officials to restore the situation to prevent people from contracting waterborne diseases like typhoid fever, and diarrhea.
Lillian Angucia, another affected resident says some people are taking the advantage of the shortage to exorbitantly charge the locals for water. She says currently they are being charged 1,000 up from 200 Shillings for a 20-liter jerry can.
Jessica Ondoru, the National Water and Sewerage Cooperation area manager Arua has blamed the shortage on the heavy down power which washed away their main supply and distribution line. She however says that the problem has been fixed and supply will be restored in the shortest time possible.
Some of the most affected facilities by the current water shortage include Arua regional Referral Hospital, Arua city and District hospitals, hotels and restaurants, and Arua main market among others.URN
