The recent revelations by Engr. Peter Chukwuma, General Manager of the Imo State Water and Sewerage Corporation, as reported by some news outlets are as shocking as they are damning.
That the state’s water infrastructure which is collapsing under the weight of decades of neglect, unregulated construction, and administrative incompetence should alarm every resident of Imo.
It is a disgrace that water systems dating back to the era of the late Governor Sam Mbakwe — over 40 years ago — are still in use today without proper upgrades or maintenance.
Chukwuma’s disclosure that these antiquated systems are being destroyed by modern road construction projects, executed without coordination or environmental oversight is shocking. The destruction of underground pipelines across Owerri and environs is not merely a technical oversight. It is a symptom of systemic rot.
When vital water infrastructure is buried under concrete without consultation with the Water Corporation, who is held accountable? Where is the planning? Where is the leadership?
The crisis at the Otamiri Water Supply System — the main source of water for Owerri — is particularly alarming. Pollution from the balloon flood control project has left the Otamiri River exposed to contamination. Engr. Chukwuma’s chilling warning that “if the contamination continues, Otamiri will be compromised,” should send shivers down the spine of every Imolite. What happens when the main water source is poisoned?
Let’s be clear: this is not a theoretical threat. It is a looming public health disaster. The Water Corporation says it can treat even septic water, but at enormous cost. So why is the state government watching this slow-motion catastrophe unfold without declaring an emergency?
Yes, the World Bank-assisted SURWASH project is a step in the right direction, but how far has it gone to ameliorate the water crisis in the State.
Meanwhile, Imo residents are being asked to drink from rusting pipes and hope for the best. Hope — as the governor’s name may suggest — is not a strategy.
Chukwuma also revealed how construction firms routinely ignore environmental impact assessments, damaging water systems with impunity. This lawless approach to infrastructure development and maintenance is not just irresponsible — it is reckless endangerment of the people’s lives. In saner climes, such acts would attract sanctions.;
The Water Corporation itself is buckling under impossible conditions. Classified under Grade A for electricity billing as Mr. Chukwuma revealed, it is being crushed by operational costs it cannot sustain. Key regional water stations in Okigwe, Orlu, Egbeada, and Eke Nguru Mbaise are barely functional. How long before they shut down entirely?
These revelations should have sparked outrage and immediate government intervention. Instead, there is a deafening silence. This silence is not just negligent — it is dangerous. A government that cannot guarantee safe drinking water cannot claim to be serious about the welfare of its people.
It is time for Governor Hope Uzodimma to focus on the essentials. The administration must declare a state of emergency on water infrastructure in the State. A technical audit of all facilities must be carried out, contractors held accountable for damage, and emergency funds released for repairs and modernization.
Water is life, and it is not optional. Imo State is facing a growing shortage of clean water. If urgent action is not taken, this period could be remembered as one when the health and well-being of the people were placed at serious risk.
“It is a disgrace that water systems dating back to the era of the late Governor Sam Mbakwe — over 40 years ago — are still in use today without proper upgrades or maintenance”
