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Viewing cable 06FREETOWN542, EAC MEETING: ACUTE WATER SHORTAGE -- POST PLANS

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06FREETOWN542 2006-07-06 16:27 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Freetown
VZCZCXRO0889
OO RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0542/01 1871627
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061627Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9993
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000542 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/EX 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/CC, DS/IP/ITA 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR CA/OCS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT AEMR ASEC CASC EAID SL
SUBJECT: EAC MEETING: ACUTE WATER SHORTAGE -- POST PLANS 
CONSERVATION MEASURES AND ALTERNATE SUPPLY 
 
Summary 
------- 
1.  A July 5 Emergency Action Committee meeting discussed the 
acute water shortage in Freetown and what actions post can 
take to mitigate its effects.  The Guma Valley reservoir is 
seriously drawn down and municipal water rationing was 
instituted last week.  On July 4, the Government established 
a water emergency task force which includes USAID.  As 
Embassy water supplies have been reduced by more than half, 
the EAC established a list of conservation measures personnel 
are to undertake.  There is some potential for augmenting our 
supply via purchasing from alternate water sources or hiring 
a water purification machine.  Added to other serious stress 
in Sierra Leonean society, the water crisis is exacerbating 
public discontent with the Government.  End Summary. 
 
EAC Meeting on Acute Water Shortage 
----------------------------------- 
2. On July 5, the DCM conducted an Emergency Action Committee 
meeting on the acute water shortage in Freetown and the 
Western Region of Sierra Leone.  In the Western Region, rains 
are reportedly further below average than elsewhere in the 
country with Freetown receiving nine inches last month versus 
29 inches in the same month last year.  The Office of 
National Security reported in a July 4 meeting, attended by 
the USAID Country Chief, that within 20 days the water in the 
Guma Valley reservoir, which supplies Freetown, will be 
completely exhausted, and if no rainfall occurs in the coming 
days, Guma would stop supplying water.  The last few days 
have seen heavy rains in and around Freetown, but forecasts 
for further precipitation are uncertain. 
 
3. At its peak, Guma supplies 23 million gallons per day, but 
that has been reduced to 13 million gallons, which the ONS 
says is inadequate to the city's needs.  ONS also reports 
that Guma's low level means that it is delivering water of 
reduced quality that, while of "satisfactory" bacteriological 
quality, is difficult to treat in terms of physical quality 
(i.e., it is muddy). 
 
4.  The restricted water supply has made life more difficult 
and uncomfortable for most people, but the EAC has received 
no indications that there is as yet a widespread public 
health threat, despite reports of scattered cases of cholera 
which typically occur in the rainy season. 
 
5. Investment in and upkeep of Freetown's water system have 
not kept pace with the rate of urban growth.  Furthermore, 
leaking pipes have long been evident in many locations and 
now with water in short supply locals are breaking into the 
pipes to get access to the diminished flow, reducing 
end-point deliveries and further degrading a feeble delivery 
system. 
 
Government Task Forces and Public Information 
--------------------------------------------- 
6.  On July 2, the GoSL Office of National Security activated 
its situation room to provide early warning and ongoing 
assessment of the water crisis.  In its July 4 meeting, ONS 
cited some cases of civil disorder as people struggled to get 
water.  Security of water delivery trucks has not been an 
issue.  ONS created a technical task force to investigate 
alternate water sources, water rationing plans, on the spot 
chlorinating of alternate sources, drilling emergency 
boreholes, and availability of water delivery trucks. 
Meanwhile, the GoSL plans to provide public information via 
radio broadcasts.  The ONS is looking at buying a water 
purification machine (source of funds unspecified) and sought 
the mission's good offices in examining a like machine at the 
PAE-operated ECOWAS Freetown Peacekeeping Depot.  (See para. 
10.) 
 
Water Supply to Mission Reduced 
------------------------------- 
7. In the chronic near total absence of pipe-borne water to 
individual buildings, the mission routinely delivers trucked 
water to all facilities and residences.  In recent days, the 
water authorities imposed rationing, reducing the mission's 
normal six 1,000 gallon water truck loads per day to two 
1,000 gallon loads.  For the time being, residences and 
facilities have water but there are too many variables for 
the post to estimate how long water will continue to be 
available. 
 
Mission Conservation Efforts 
---------------------------- 
8.  The broadly representative EAC meeting established a 
substantial list of water conservation measures to be 
 
FREETOWN 00000542  002 OF 002 
 
 
communicated immediately to mission personnel via an 
Management Notice.  They range from capturing rain water in 
large containers, to strict discipline on potable water 
consumption, restricting washing machine use and car washing, 
and controlling the amount of water used by staff and guards. 
 
Potential Water Supply and Delivery Improvements 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
9.  The New Embassy Compound does not yet have a dedicated 
water supply, but the small pipeline meant as a backup water 
supply is scheduled for completion in two weeks.  More 
immediate help may be available directly from water sharing 
with the nearby residential compound of IMATT, the UK 
military training team.  A private company in Lungi near the 
Freetown airport is offering water for Le 25 per gallon 
($0.008) while Guma Valley's price in Le 20.  However, Lungi 
is a minimum three hour road trip from Freetown. 
 
10.  Perhaps most importantly, the Freetown Depot (PAE) has a 
reverse osmosis water purification machine that is capable of 
delivering 23,000 gallons in a 12 hour day and can be trucked 
to operate at a water source.  PAE's estimated charge for 
operating the purifier is $4-5,000 per month, but PAE said 
they could operate it for a few days as a training exercise. 
Finding and securing the rights to take water from a local 
stream is another matter.  In addition, the Freetown Depot 
has water bladders for storage.  If post were to source its 
own water, security for the processing and transportation 
equipment would be required. 
 
11.  In recent weeks the mission has depended on a PAE water 
truck, but recently received the parts needed to repair our 
own water truck and will complete the repairs ASAP.  A second 
military surplus water truck requires an engine overhaul 
which also will be initiated immediately.  In addition, 
IMATT, the UK military training team, informs post that they 
have a 5,000 liter water carrier to augment water haulage. 
 
Comment 
------- 
12.  Post like the rest of Freetown is dependent for water on 
the dilapidated Guma system, and with rains arriving late and 
looking to be below average, a water crisis has emerged. 
Sierra Leoneans are stressed by scarce jobs, rising living 
costs, lack of electricity, and recent fuel and transport 
price increases.  A struggle for the basic necessity of clean 
water could easily create episodes of incivility and 
potentially wider political upheaval, beyond the political 
finger pointing over the shortcomings of the municipal water 
system.  We will continue to marshal our own resources and 
work with the GoSL and other donors to face the water 
shortage.  In addition, so as to track the shortage, post 
will monitor feedback from contacts, including the American 
community, further increases in water prices, and the 
potential for civil unrest surrounding obtaining water.  End 
Comment. 
HULL