Imo Faces Pure Water Shortage As Manufacturers Halt Production

There is scarcity of pure water distribution in Imo State following the three days shutdown of the manufacturers under the aegis of Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP), Imo State chapter.

While consumers claim the action is strike by the manufacturers to introduce new prices as a result of rising operational costs, the association claims it is a routine shutdown to allow members conduct maintenance to enhance hygienic water production practice.

The chairman of the Imo State ATWAP, Engr Bismark Lumanze denied any strike action but maintained that they were on a three day shutdown for routine maintenance to enhance hygienic water production practice.

Lumanze said, “No, we are not on strike but on annual routine maintenance of our factories to ensure we produce clean and save water.

“We had already increased the prices of table water and pure water before the three days mandatory break for maintenance. So it’s not true that we are on strike. However, business supplies will resume from Thursday 12am,” he said.

Lumanze explained that the exercise is a routine measure introduced by his administration to promote hygienic water production practices for the benefit of consumers within and beyond the state.

Already, residents of Owerri have lamented the sudden price hike of pure water from ₦350 per bag to ₦500 since Monday.

The situation is even worsened by the total absence of water trucks to sell whether at the factories or in hitherto known locations for buying from manufacturers.

Pure water hawkers who normally sold three pieces for ₦100 since Monday have been selling just one and blamed it on scarcity due to lack of supplies.

Meanwhile, some members of ATWAP who pleaded anonymity told LEADERSHIP that the price of the nylon used to package the water and the diesel/fuel used to power the generators for processing had increased leaving them with huge expenses.

An ATWAP member who pleaded anonymity said, “The ongoing war in Iran has started affecting our business, as the prices of diesel, fuel, and nylon have increased and ATWAP members can barely meet up with cost of production.

“We decided to quietly down tools so that people will miss us and then we can introduce the new price. But we told people that we are doing routine maintenance,” he said.

He noted that their business had become threatened following allegations that pure water sachets were part of the reason for dirts in the country, as well as the concerns over the move by the Nigerian senate to streamline their businesses.

Lumanze, who also serves as the south east coordinator of ATWAP and president of Entrepreneurs in Imo State, maintained that the temporary shutdown provided operators with the opportunity to thoroughly clean their production environments, replace filters, carry out treatment tank backwashing, and wash storage facilities, among other essential maintenance activities.

He commended his members for their full compliance to achieve the objectives of the exercise.

The shutdown commenced on Monday, March 16 and will end on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 by midnight.