RSG Considers Water Standard Regulation Agency

If plans by the authorities in the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources sail through then a new water standard and regulatory agency may be established, as part of measures to raise the quality and safety of drinking water in the  state.

The hint was dropped by the State Commissioner for Water Resources, Ms Patricia Hart at a one-day stakeholders conference on “Drinking Water Quality Assessment Report in the Niger Delta Region”.

Ms Hart said already the ministry has commenced collection of data and water samples across the state and is planning to establish a data centre with Geographic Information System (GIS) for  effective guidance.

She stated that the data collection would be followed with a critical study of the peculiarity of the state, noting, “ there are a lot of conflicting responsibilities which have to be addressed.

The Rivers State Water Resources Commissioner frowned at the incessant sprouting of boreholes in the  state, stressing that measures have to be taken to curb the trend since a lot of such water sources are not healthy for public consumption.

Making public the report on Water Quality Assessment carried out in three core Niger Delta states, Mr Okarilawon Oni, Head, Water and Sanitation Division in the National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna disclosed that the exercise has been useful as it is a guide to the  state of ground water sources in the region.

States covered include Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers State, according to Oni. He noted that, “ ground water generally in the Niger Delta is acidic due to the mineral composition of the soil.

He remarked that due to the detection of lead, mercury and cadmium in the drinking water, there may be need to consider alternative source of water supply in such areas especially where remediation is not technically or economically feasible.

Mr Oni proffered that, the preferred approach to ensuring drinking water quality is through preventive management. This should take into account the characteristic of the water supply from source to its consumers”.

The water expert also stressed the need for a collaborative approach to be adopted in the Niger Delta area in monitoring the quality of water. This he believed would ensure that the agencies involved in water management become proactive and efficient.