By Oye Chukwujekwu, Asaba
Delta State government has flagged off a sensitization campaign to promote public compliance with the commitment to commence a water testing programme in the state.
The Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Sir Fidelis Tilije, who kicked off the programme, said that water testing and certification was mandatory according to the provisions of the Delta State Urban Water Board Law, 2000.
Leading the throng of directors and expatriates round premises of various corporate entities in Asaba, the commissioner represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Felicia Adum, said that the drive was to minimize waterborne diseases in the state.
Tilije urged Delta State residents to pay the N5000 testing fees already subsidized at 60 percent by the state government to enable effective and efficient execution by the state.
He said, “The state government cannot afford to ignore the obvious health implications of unwholesome water consumption by its people and the resultant bills our citizens spend on water borne diseases, hence the statewide water testing and analysis programme would help to determine the status of the quality of our water sources, particularly of boreholes which most of residents depend on.”
During a visit to the Delta State Quality Control Laboratory at Delta State Water Board along Okpanam Road, Chief Executive Officer of Emani Global Network Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Osiegbu, stressed the need to test water.
He said that it was critical to help reduce the rate of water borne diseases among the people.
“l believe that a healthy nation is a productive nation and Delta State is one of the states in this nation that has embarked on this policy,” he added.
