By Olimatou Coker
The village of Njien in Sabach Sanjal district has benefited from a huge water project sponsored by the Girls’ Empowerment Project of Banjul mayor, Rohey Malick Lowe.
The project, consisting of a borehole and pipework cost some D880,000. It has a sustainable yield of 18 cubic meters per hour to serve a population of approximately 900 inhabitants and a hybrid solar electrical submersible pump capable of delivering an average of 6 cubic meter per hour.
The project also involved the installation of 1000 meters pipe distribution network including 25 private stand taps located at the door steps of compounds; as well as 4 PVC storage tanks of 2000 liters each mounted on steel elevated tower of 5 meters high for gravity fed as well as a fence for the solar pumping field to prevent animals, children and intruders to cause damages to the solar pumping system.
The borehole was inaugurated on Sunday, much to the delight of the villagers whose standard of living improved instantly.
Awa Gaye, speaking on behalf of the women of Njien, hailed the development because it has saved them from drinking well water, less fit for consumption.
“We are extremely happy about the development. It is important because it has brought us clean water and saved us from drinking well water, which was less clean and safe. We are grateful to the Mayor of Banjul, the sponsor,” she said in a phone interview with Kerr Fatou.
On behalf of the men of the village in a phone conversation, Modou Njie expressed gratitude to the mayor for providing them with clean and safe drinking water, after decades of consuming well water.
Meanwhile, the sponsor, Rohey Malick Lowe said water is life and it is her commitment to empowering women and children.
“I am happy because if you provide water for a human, it’s like you have given him/her life. At the end of the day, the beneficiaries are those close to my heart—the women and children. Those who know me know that I am committed to women and youth empowerment. That makes me happy. The beneficiaries appreciate it,” she told Kerr Fatou.
