The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Water Board has assured Abuja residents that the water supplied by the board is potable.

The acting director of the board gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Friday.

Adebayo said that the board was always conscious to treat raw water properly before supplying residents.

According to agency reports, Adebayo’s assurance followed the concern expressed by some Abuja residents that the refuse carried by floods from the surrounding settlements could pollute the water in Usuma Dam.

He noted that the dam was vulnerable to pollution by refuse generated from Mpape community, but stressed that the Board would continue to properly treat the water and ensure eradication of contaminants.

“If there is no pollution there will be no need for water treatment in the first place.

“The government anticipated that the dam could be infiltrated by refuse from some slums; that is why it ensured establishment of dams on high ground to prevent such infiltration.

“The city is developing rapidly, a place like Mpape which used to be a small settlement has witnessed rapid population growth,” he said.

He noted that the increased population raised the volume of waste generated and carried to the dam through erosion during the rainy season.

“But we ensure that the water is properly treated and is healthy for consumption,” he said.

He assured residents that it was a matter of priority to pay special attention to water supplied to the FCT because of its strategic importance.

“FCT is the seat of government and a lot of international figures come here from time to time; and so, we cannot compromise the quality of the water we supply to the territory.

“We have a quality control department that monitors the water right from the dams to the point of consumption,’’ he stressed.

On the shortage of water experienced recently in parts of Abuja, the acting director said it was due to expansion work at the treatment plant.

“There is provision for expansion of our dam and the government deemed it fit to annex more water from River Gurara in Kaduna State to boost water supply to all parts of the territory.

“We are now trying to lay pipes from that dam directly to two of our new treatment plants and that is the work that has been going on.

“That is why some hilly places around Maitama and Asokoro, as well as some satellite towns liky Karu and Nyanya have been experiencing shortage of water.

“The work will be completed in a matter of days and water supply will become even better,” he assured.

He said that the revenue generation by the board had increased considerably, and appealed to residents to improve on their cooperation with the board.

/NAN