The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) on Monday, sensitised residents of Ikosi-Ejinrin Local Council Development Area (LCDA), and Epe Local Government Area, on water sanitation and hygiene.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Sensitisation and Public Engagement Programme, had the theme: “Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene”.
It was aimed at strengthening regulation, community partnership, preventive public health and sustainable environmental practices, in the water sector.
Speaking during the event held at the Epe council secretariat, Executive Secretary of LASWARCO, Mrs Oluwabukola Adeyemo, said that the forum was also aimed at educating the public, on the role of the commission, as a regulator in ensuring access to potable water.
She said that the commission was responsible for regulating water service providers, to ensure strict compliance with quality standards in water production, treatment, handling and distribution.
Adeyemo said that although Lagos is surrounded by water, most of the available sources were unsafe for consumption without proper treatment.
According to her, indiscriminate drilling of boreholes and poor hygiene practices, exposed residents to water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea.
On the sidelines of the event, she told newsmen that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, was revamping water infrastructure across the state, to improve access to potable water.
“Water provision involves high costs of energy, treatment, infrastructure maintenance and security; Payment is necessary to sustain the system,” she said.
She urged residents to report unregulated water producers and illegal borehole drillers to LASWARCO, for appropriate action, adding that water regulation should be a collective responsibility.
On his part, the Director of Technical Services of LASWARCO, Mr Idowu Olowu, urged residents in Epez to avoid self-treatment of boreholes, warning that indiscriminate use of chemicals could damage water sources.
Reacting to the sensitisation programme, Chairman of Epe Community Development Committee (CDC), Chief Basorun Abayomi, commended the Lagos State Government for the exercise.
He assured that the message would be passed to all CDAs in Epe.
NAN reports that the programme attracted no fewer than 141 participants, including key stakeholders like borehole drillers, sachet and bottled water producers.
Others were: water tanker operators, market women, religious leaders, teachers and Executives of Community Development Association.
NAN also reports that the programme is expected to cover five local councils in Epe, between Monday and Wednesday, and will then be extended gradually to other LGAs in the state
Highlights of the programme was a practical demonstration of water treatment by LASWARCO’s technical team.
