· Makes N200m monthly, targets N400m
· We are evolving, says AGM
By Sarah NEGEDU
The FCT Water Board is said to have failed to successfully carry out series of its set targets between October 2020 and June 2021, mostly due to issues of inadequate funding and lack of trained personnel.
According to the Quality Control Department of the Board, the lack of necessary equipment also hindered analysis to determine the presence of certain heavy metals and some emergence water contaminants at the Lower Usuma Dam.
The departmental report is captured in a 2021 scorecard presented by the Acting General Manager of the FCT Water Board, Dame Joy Okoro, at the end of year media briefing over the weekend.
An analysis of the report shows that the department failed to carry out online determination of raw water flow rates for plants due to faulty meters.
The department also failed to carryout servicing of laboratory equipment due to the lack of trained personnel, while the proper disposal of chemical waste was also not achieved in the period under review.
Staffers of the department do not also work in a safe and conducive laboratory environment, as they are exposed to toxic chemicals for lack of fume cupboards for reagent preparation, air extractors, shelf for reagents, among others.
It was, however, not all gloom as the FCT Water Board met a meet a number of its targets including, investigation of all supplied water treatment chemicals to ascertain their quality and quantity before acceptance for use.
The quality control department was also able to conduct routine physico-chemical and bacteriological analysis of water in the treatment line, to ensure the water is in conformity to WHO and NSDWQ set standards.
Also, analysis to determine water chemical requirements through jar test and chlorine demand test was successfully carried out.
Routine plant monitoring to ensure conformity to recommended chemical dosage, consumption pattern and observation of the aesthetic condition of the entire plant were also carried out.
Also, investigation of residual chlorine level in the treated water samples were successfully done, however, the use of vat chlorination system in Phase I was said not to guarantee effective disinfection due to periodic breakdowns
While highlighting some of the achievement of the FCT Water Board, the Acting GM, Joy Okoro, disclosed that the revenue base of the board rose steadily under her watch, from N122,729,926.75 in March 2021 to over N200million.
In her words, “The revenue performance of the Board had improved significantly with the months of March 2021, July 2021, September & October 2021 recording unprecedented, improved percentages of 41%, 19.49%, 66% and 23%, respectfully.
“Notably, prior to my appointment, the best performance was March 2020 with a performance of N122,729,926.75 from 7,395 transactions. The months of March, July, September and October 2021 have not just recorded higher figures but also higher transaction volumes, a direct consequence of my philosophy of encouraging customers to pay water bills.”
She added that the FCT Water Board will soon commence online billing of customers in 2022 to further drive its revenue to N450million monthly target.
“We have a target of N400 million to N450 million monthly. I think we’ll get there and you rightly know that we already have an Act which was approved and assented since 2017.”
While noting that the Board currently has 54,000 customers in its database, Princess Okoro further said that steps have been taken to update the database which could be said to be obsolete as it was prepared 25 years ago and most of the houses captured then may no longer be in existence.
