The government has put up a 5,000-litre solar powered water reticulation system at Mumana Lupando Rural Health centre in Kasama District in Northern Province.

The water reticulation system, which has been put up at a cost of over K300, 000, will supply clean water to the health facility and the community in the Mumana Lupando area.

Kasama District Commissioner Annie Paul who inspected the water project said the mechanised water system has been put up using the 2023 Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation.

Mrs Paul has indicated that the putting up of the water reticulation system is part of the government’s intervention to improve the lives of people through the provision of safe and clean drinking water.

She added that the water reticulation system will also help to reduce waterborne diseases in the area.

The District Commissioner has disclosed that in the past the community used to get water from a stream, which was shared with animals.

And Kasama Municipal Council Acting Director of Engineering Chitundu Mwila disclosed that the water project is coming with four additional waterborne toilets that have been constructed at the health facility.

Mr  Mwila disclosed that the community at Mumana Lupando had challenges accessing drinking water, especially in the dry season when nearby streams used to dry up, making them cover long distances to fetch water.

He added that the local authority has extended the water system to the community so that they can benefit from the project.

Mr Mwila said the water reticulation system was initially meant to benefit the clinic, but the local authority extended the project to the community after seeing the challenges the community face in accessing drinking water.

And Bupe Chileshe, a resident of Mumana Lupando, said the community used to record several cases of waterborne diseases before the coming of the water project.

Ms Chileshe has since appealed to the local authority to consider increasing the capacity of the water tanks so that people can access clean and safe drinking water at any time of the day.

She explained that some households in the village have even started putting up waterborne toilets because they have water within their reach.

Ms Chileshe has also observed that the availability of water will help improve sanitation in the village.