“Water,water, everywhere, but no drop to drink”. That was a paraphrase from an 18th century poet, Samuel Toylor Coleridge in his 1798 lyrical ballad’ the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Similarly, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its 2016 report noted that the high demand for water will exceed its supply by 40 percent by 2030.
According to the report, many governments across the world will spend 200 billion per year on upstream supply as demand outstrips cheaper forms of supply.
Also because of the importance of water to the survival of humanity, the United Nations General Assembly in 1992 adopted. Resolution A/rcs/193 $ declared March 22 every year as World Water Day.
The first World Water Day was observed in march 1993.
Recalled that the theme for this year’s celebration was; “Ground Water: Making the Invisible Visible” and Rivers State and the rest of Nigeria were not left out in the celebration.
It would be recalled that since the inception of this Administration, enormous efforts and resources have been put in place to not only mark the day as a way of creating awareness but also provide potable drinking water to the citizenry.
The Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Mega water project is on-going and a number of local governments have been provided water by the administration.
Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Dr. Tomunosisi Gogo Jaja in a broadcast to mark the day said Governor Nyesom Wike’s Administration is committed to giving Rivers people potable drinking water.
According to the Commissioner, “for us in Rivers State, the New Rivers Vision Government led by His Excellency Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is making considerate effort in making this resource visible to our people.
“My dear good people of Rivers State with what Governor Nyesom Wike is doing with the Port Harcourt water supply and sanitation supply project, fresh clean and safe water shall soon be delivered to our homes.
Gogo-Jaja said the project is at various stages of completion.
“We have started reticulation in different parts of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.
He said some rural communities are also enjoying clean potable drinking water.
The commissioner also described ground water as a vital resource that provides almost half of all drinking water in the world about 40 percent required for agriculture and one third of water required for industry.
“Water is an essential building block of existence, it is prime necessity for life,” the commissioner said.
Also at event to mork the day, Professor Kingdom Abam of Rivers State University said government at all levels should commit enormous resources to the water sector.
He said, this is necessary to check rampant waterborne diseases.
On his part, Odiri Macson President Water producers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN) said the association has keyed into the policy of the state government in ensuring that water delivered to the public is safe.
Meanwhile, some Rivers indigenes have reacted to this celebration.
A cross section of the people who spoke to The Tide decried the high rate of water borne diseases and attributed the to bad water.
Mr Precious A. Simeon told The Tide in Eneka in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area that proliferation of boreholes in the area is contributing to the high rate of water-borne diseases.
“The disease causes vomiting weakness and stooling . We need government attention here” he said.
Also speaking Mrs. Ifeoma John said government should regulate borehole drillers to ensure standardisation with a view to making it safe for people to drink.
In her word, “water borne diseases should be prevented with equitable access to quality drinking water and good hygienic practices by the people”.
Mics Omiete Ibama said waterborne diseases will be eradicated once the citizenry imbibe good hygienic practices .
Ibama, student of Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology said the issue concerning the eradication of open defecation should be token seriously.
For Master Harmony Prince, Government should expedite action on the Obio/Akpor Port Harcourt mega water project.
Prince also called for hygienic practices such as regular washing of hands after toilet and others to be imbibed by the citizenry.
Mrs Valentine Njo called on government to provide water to the people.
Although the ceremony has come and gone, the echoes still linger as citizens gathering access to quality water in some parts of the country presently is like a camel passing through the eye of needle.
Even satchet water is now out of the reach of the common man as a packet now sells at N20.00.
Even some rural communities are replete with stones of a cholera outbreak.
The clarion call is now louder than before.

By: John Bibor & Oribim Ibama