Bauchi Plans More Power Transformers To Tackle Water Scarcity

Bauchi State government is set to buy new power transformers that supply power to the water stations in a move to address the challenges being faced with water supply in Bauchi metropolis.

This was announced by the state commissioner ministry of water resources, Hon. Abdulrazaq Nuhu Zaki during the inauguration of the governing boards of directors of Bauchi State Urban Water and Sewerage Corporation (BSUWSC) and Bauchi State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) yesterday.

According to him, the main problem in water supply is the power supply and it is a national issue that the state has little to contribute to overcoming it.

He said the state government will continue to explore the utilization of solar systems to provide power to the schemes as much as is practicable.

He said, “You may be aware of the challenges being faced recently with water supply especially in Bauchi metropolis. Municipal water supply requires the utilization of electricity power. In fact, in situations where gravity flow is not obtainable, there has to be full mechanization of the system. This means flow in the system is induced by pumping which requires power to achieve it.”

“The Gubi Dam Water Treatment Plant relies on electricity to pump water to Bauchi metropolis. The power transformers at the substation have been developing problems which in turn have been affecting water supply to the metropolis,” Zaki said.

The commissioner said efforts have been ongoing to rectify the transformers, adding that one of the two 5mva transformers is on, while the other one is defective while the 3MVA being used as backup is also defective.

Zaki said the state governor, Bala Mohammed has vowed to tackle the challenge headlong by replacing the old transformers that have shown weaknesses due to old age and the unsteady nature of power supply in the country, saying that the process for the replacement has commenced.

He commended the state governor for constituting the governing boards of directors of the agencies as well as providing the enabling environment and for putting his administration on the path of developing Bauchi State in all facets of human progress.