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Addis inaugurated eight water wells at a cost of 1.2 billion Br . The new water wells will supply drinking water to 440,000 residents.

Addis Abeba city administration inaugurated eight water wells at a cost of 1.2 billion Br on November 18, 2018. The wells are located at Kilinto, Keye Fechi and Tuludimitu areas.

Built by the City Water & Sewerage Authority, the wells began pumping several weeks ago and are expected to supply potable water to 440,000 residents of the city. The wells have been under construction since 2013 by the local firm, Aser Construction, and the Chinese CGCOC Group Co, Ltd.

Aser had previously constructed the Bole Ring Road Utility Line; Gelan Waste Treatment Plant; Yeka Abbado road project; and installed the pipe, fitting and completed the civil work of Kilinto and Koye Fechi projects. The construction project created job opportunities for 50 permanent and 150 temporary workers, according to Abdrezak Bedru, engineering department manager of Aser Construction.

Asser accomplished its part of the project at a cost of 330 million Br.The electro-mechanical work of the project was completed by CGCOC, which had previously executed the construction of the Ethiopian Glass Factory and the Nile River Bridge Project. It is currently working on the Addis Africa International Exhibition & Convention Center.

“The new water projects pump 44,000 cubic meters of water a day from eight water wheels,” said Estifanos Bisrat, the Authority’s communications director.The Authority used to deliver tap water to Koye Fechi, Tulu Dimetu and Kilinto residents from Aqaqi River, east of Addis Abeba.

“We have been unable to finish the new water projects on time because of the shortage of foreign currency,” Estifanos told Fortune.The Authority is still undertaking the construction of North-South Ayata Fenta project, which has the capacity of producing 68,000 cubic meters a day. The Authority is also working on phase-two of the Legedadi Water Supply Project, which will generate 86,000 cubic meters of water a day. The Gerbi dam project is also in the pipeline, which is expected to produce 73,000 cubic meters a day.

The Authority currently supplies 525,000 cubic meters of water daily, which only satisfies 60pc of the city’s demands.The water from the water wells has already started flowing into taps in some residential areas.“Previously, there was a high shortage of water problem,” said Mesfin Ali, a father of two kids who lives in Tulu Dimtu condominium. “We used to get water only once a week.” “After the new project started working, we are now getting five or six days of water a week,” Mesfin told Fortune.

On the national level, 42pc of the population does not have access to potable water, while properly managed water reaches only 10pc of the total population, according to a joint WHO and UNICEF reports.

Experts suggest that the city should minimise wastage of water that occurs en route, before it reaches the taps.

“As important as it is constructing these projects, the Authority should focus on delivering long-lasting solutions,” said Adey Feleke (PhD), an assistant professor at Addis Abeba University’s College of Natural Science’s Environmental Biotechnology Department who has researched wastewater quality, told Fortune.

The expert also suggests the public needs to be cautious of the water usage.“The public needs to separate the water it uses for drinking and cleaning purposes,” Adey said.A 132-year-old city, Addis Abeba built its first water plant at the foot of Entoto in 1938, and six years later Gefersa Dam was completed. Gefersa remains the source of the largest water supply for the city.

Addis Abeba hosts 30pc of the country’s urban population. It has an estimated population of over four million, according to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). With a population growth rate of 3.8pc, this figure is expected to rise to five million by 2030.

Source-Fortune Newspaper

Ethiopia and XYLEM inks MoU to solve water challenges

(EBC; November 21, 2018) —Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy (MoWIE) and Xylem Inc., a leading global water technology provider, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for future cooperation to help advance water security in Ethiopia.

 

The MoU was signed at an event in Ethiopia attended by Ethiopia’s Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy Dr. Eng. Seleshi Bekele and Xylem President and CEO Patrick Decker; and a representative of the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia.

 

Dr. Eng Seleshi Bekele noted that the present MoU signed creates an enabling platform to improve water supply and sanitation service delivery and ensure scheme sustainability. He also stressed that the Ethiopian water supply and sanitation sector benefit from the broad technical and technological solutions Xylem has been providing.

 

“This exploratory partnership is a chance to strengthen our working relationship with the Ministry and build on positive conversations around water systems optimization, energy, water and sewage coverage, and to create a foundation that can help advance Ethiopia’s water sector in the future,” said, Xylem President and CEO Patrick Decker

 

Xylem is committed to helping communities around the world harness the power of technology to protect and optimize water and wastewater systems.

 

 

Source:  waterworld.com

 

 

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