The Managing Director of the Jos Water Services Corporation, Engr. Apollos Simon Samchi, has announced that over 40,000 residents of Jos and its environs will soon enjoy clean and steady water supply from the newly upgraded Yelwa Water Treatment Plant.
Engr. Samchi made this known during an inspection visit by government officials and members of the press to the Yelwa Water Treatment Plant, one of the oldest facilities serving the Jos-Bukuru area.
He explained that the facility, which has been moribund for over 15 years, is being revived in partnership with the World Bank as part of efforts by the Plateau State Government to improve water supply.
“This water scheme has been moribund for the past 15 years, and the World Bank is partnering with the Plateau State Government to fix and rehabilitate this water plant,” he stated.
The MD said the treatment plant has a 5,000 cubic meter capacity and transmits water to a 1,200 cubic meter overhead tank in the heart of Bukuru town, helping to ease pressure on older water facilities like the Yakubu Gowon Dam.
Engr. Samchi noted that the revival of the Yelwa plant will cover areas like Gyel, Kwata, Bukuru, and Vom, adding that a major pipeline extension to Gyel community has already been completed.
“We are targeting 40,000 people to benefit from this very particular Yelwa Treatment Plant when we fully start,” he said.
He attributed the recent shortage of water in Jos during the dry season to climate change and the aged nature of water infrastructure, which was built over 45 years ago.
“Facilities that we have in Jos and Bukuru were constructed over 45 years ago, and population growth, urban expansion, and crisis-induced migration have overwhelmed them,” he explained.
To address these issues, Samchi said the Corporation has been engaging various communities to understand their specific needs and has started including them in the state’s water supply plans.
He also revealed that efforts are underway to ensure sustainable power supply to water facilities through a dedicated solar power partnership to reduce dependence on the unstable national grid.
In terms of billing, Engr. Samchi disclosed that a new system has been developed to enhance accountability and transparency. Smart water meters have been introduced in the Gyel community as a model, while POS machines have been deployed to business areas to improve revenue generation.
