LOWASCO RECEIVES BUTT FUSION MACHINE FROM USAID FEED THE FUTURE TO BOOST WATER SUPPLY OPERATIONS
Lodwar Water supply and sanitation company (LOWASCO) has received a new Butt Fusion machine from USAID funded Feed the Future program to boost routine operations of water supply to the residents of Lodwar Municipality.
The Ksh 485,000 machine was handed over by Feed the Future program Manager Humphrey Diang’a and WASH specialist Engineer James Nachule to the County Executive for Water Services Faith Aletea at the County Water headquarters in Lodwar.
CECM Faith Aletea was accompanied by Chief Officer for Water Services David Maraka, the Acting CEO of LOWASCO Esther Lokitoe and Turkana Central Sub County Water Officer Vinson Ekai.
The machine whose work is to protect the piping system in a bid to address leakages and connection related challenges, will be deployed to the Napetet and Lodwars’ Central Business District piping system for the direct benefit of up to 40,000 residents of the area served by a high yielding borehole at Moi Gardens.
Humphrey Diang’a said that the support was part of a bigger program that also included equipping the high yielding Moi Garden borehole with solar control units, pipeline integration electrical installations and submersible pump.
Diang’a also listed the support towards Songot, Kangitesuroi and Lopur water supply projects as interventions by USAID Feed the Future in support of improving water access to the residents of Turkana in partnership with the department of Water services.
The said projects at Songot, Kangitesuroi and Lopur are already in use benefitting more than 15,000 people and up to 18,000 livestock.
“As LMS and Feed the Future, we are planning interventions for Kataboi, Kalimapus, Lokichar, Lomekwi, Kakuma and Lorgum sites to address the water situation in the area.” Diang’a said.
In her remarks, CECM Faith Aletea said that the support would contribute to Governor Lomorukais’ priority agenda that recognize water access as a universal human right.
CECM Faith Aletea also appreciated the USAID funded project for supporting water trucking initiatives, corporate governance and water sector management training aimed at ensuring seamless delivery of water services to the residents.
The CEC added that the recent benchmarking visit to Nanyuki by LOWASCO, LOKIWASCO and Kakuma Water supply company (KATOWASE) staff was supported by USAID sponsored Livestock Market Systems (LMS) program.
The donation comes at a time when boreholes along the Turkwell River are facing an imminent threat from the Increased El-Nino rains as the county prepares a contingency plan. Feed the Future program is a members.
