Government agency seeks funds to address water crisis in Juba

JUBA – The South Sudan Urban Water Corporation (SSUWC) has appealed for funds to construct a new water treatment plant to address the chronic water shortage in Juba, which also serves as the capital of the world’s youngest country.

The current water supply in Juba is far below the demand of the city’s growing population. According to Yar Paul Kuol, Managing Director of the SSUWC, the city needs a 200,000 cubic meter treatment plant to meet the needs of its approximately 2 million residents.

“There is no funding to build a treatment plant of 200,000 cubic meters, because this is what is required, according to the study by JICA, to provide the Juba population of 2 million with water at their houses,” Kuol said after she was summoned by legislators on Wednesday in Juba.

Currently, Juba only has a combined capacity of 18,000 cubic meters per day from various sources, including the old system, JICA’s facility, and Lologo, which was constructed by UNICEF. This is far short of the required 200,000 cubic meters.

Kuol said that the grant they are receiving from JICA, and the African Development Bank Group is not enough to construct a water facility in Juba.

“They are support, they are emergency support. Only that will distribute water through tanker filling stations and through Jerkins. But the ultimate goal of Urban Water Corporation, as everyone knows, is to distribute with pipe, with tap,” she said.

The water crisis in Juba has also led to a significant increase in water prices. The price of water has gone up by 100 percent within one month, according to Gen. Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani, the Governor of Central Equatoria State.

Jadalla warned that the residents would likely experience more crises than ever if something is not done urgently amid the economic crisis.

He stressed the need for the government to consider water subsidies on fuel and other water treatment to reduce the cost of water.