By: Momodou Justice Darboe
The erratic water supply in several parts of urban Gambia and rising temperatures have been compelling many in urban Gambia to spend more money on bottled water of-late, this medium can authoritatively report.
Thousands of Gambians and non-Gambians resident in urban Gambia have been experiencing excruciating water shortages, which was compounded by extreme heat.
Accessing potable water have now become a privilege for many in urban Gambia as they sometimes go for several hours and even days without this essential element of life.
There appears to be no end in sight to urban Gambia’s water woes despite the injection of millions of Dalasi by the Gambia’s development partners to improve the country’s water infrastructure.
It would be recalled that the Gambia government this year received millions of Dalasi ahead the OIC summit to enhance water services in parts of urban Gambia but many Gambians have yet to see the returns of this investment as their lives continued to be concomitant with water stress.
Currently, temperatures are above normal and the extreme heat has sharply increased the demand for drinking water.
“Now that our taps have become virtually dry, we have no other choice but to depend on bottled water,” KotoringSambou said in a chat with this reporter.
“Water business is now very brisk because people are thirsty and cannot depend on NAWEC for their water consumption needs,” Mam Jarra Sarr stated when approached by this media for comment on urban Gambia’s water shortages.
“The Barrow administration must be alive to the pains and cries of Gambians as regards urban Gambia’s water issues. There are a lot of risks associated with inadequate water supply, especially health risks,” concerned Gambian Yorro Baldeh cautioned.
The water and heat stresses in urban Gambia have been hitting many hard in the pocket as demand for drinking water during this time increased exponentially.