WWD: Don Decries Lack Of Proper Water Reticulation Of Greater Jos Master Plan

A don in the University of Jos, Prof Ezekiel Best has decried the lack of a clear laid out water reticulation plan by the Plateau State Water Board that would meet up with the demand of water by new settlements springing up in the greater Jos master plan.

Prof Best who is also from the Department of Sociology, University of Jos, stated this in a keynote address to commemorate the 2024 World Water Day with the theme, “Water for Peace.”

The event organised by Society for the Transfer of Appropriate Sustainable Technology and Expertise (TASTE), with sponsorship by Tearfun and supported by WorldServe, was held in Jos, the Plateau State capital at the weekend.

“We are building up crises; it might not be now. When these places are fully developed, you will discover that the water problem will manifest clearly. The new settlements that are coming up will certainly need water. It is when these places are fully developed that you will see a full-blown water crisis,” he said.

Speaking on the fear in some quarters that borehole drilling rather than solve water problem in the society tend to create more problems, Prof Best said, “This is very true judging from what took place recently in Abuja. We have some cases where there was what looked like tremor underground. Borehole is like you are basically boring a hole underground that will create a vacuum where water will be gathered and sunk out into a tank.

“Now look at a well lay out settlement, there is a borehole in this house, borehole in the next house and borehole everywhere.  This is not by any design, but every owner of the house decided to have a borehole in his house. The accumulation of all of these will definitely have a longtime effect,” he stated.

According to him, the best way out is to have water in a central place and the reticulation network should be such that each house is connected to have regular supply of water in a sustainable manner.