Madang water users demand answers from Water PNG

Water- users in Madang Town are demanding an answer from Water PNG regarding the ongoing water woes, which some of them have been experiencing for about one month now.

The hard- hit residents are on high grounds, especially in the Newtown area.

Their taps have been dry for three to four weeks, with most relying on alternate water sources like tanks and bored water holes.

Those with water catchments say they are slowly running out of water as there had been no rain in the recent weeks.

Those on the lower grounds are a bit lucky, however; their supply is coming in dribs and drabs due to the low pressure and, from time to time gets cut off again.

In one part of Newtown, residents have been collecting water from a broken WPNG pipe.

Frustrated residents are reporting awful odours from toilets due to this problem.

They are calling on Water PNG to fix whatever problem is affecting the supply system as it is now becoming a health hazard.

Some government offices and even private business houses have also raised the same concern.

Residents at Tarangau, including the police barracks; Miliok, Kibilak, Bemlon, Kuperu, Taleo, and Miliok, say their taps have been dry for three consecutive weeks.

A resident at Nikolai Maclay says, "We've been without water for almost a month, and questioned why is WPNG still doing meter readings?"

He added, "This is frustrating."

Wards 16 and 17 in the Ambenob Local Level Government area have also reported the same.

They have been without water for two weeks.

Another resident, Rose Francis, says, "By now WPNG Madang needs to have reliable standby power at their treatment plant. Currently, it looks like they rely only on PPL. When there is a power outage in town, water supply stops at higher grounds. The bulk of the water supply consumers lives at Newtown area or higher grounds. Why rely on PPL? Every state- owned enterprise or business house must have a backup plan to supply their consumers/ customers.. WPNG Engineering team needs to address this ongoing issue."

She added, "We can manage without power but not water."

Residents say they have been left in the dark about the prolonged water outage until only yesterday when Water PNG put out a Public Notice advising that water supply will be disrupted due to continuous power outages that had affected their standby generator at the Panim Water Treatment Plant.

The standby generator is now experiencing some technical issues, and as a result, customers should expect intermittent water supply.

Water PNG Management says that to manage the limited production during this period, it has put out a
temporary water rationing schedule.

Morning: 5am - 10am
Afternoon: 5pm- 10pm

The management has apologised for the inconvenience caused during this time and appreciates the customers' patience as they work towards restoring this vital service.