The Kwara State Government has temporarily shut down the Asa Dam Waterworks in Ilorin to allow for rehabilitation and restore efficient water treatment and supply to residents of the metropolis.*
The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Usman Yunusa Lade, disclosed this on Thursday during an inspection of the facility.
Lade said the lamella clarifier units at the treatment plant had collapsed, while the filter beds were clogged with debris due to heavy inflow of effluent and waste into the dam.
He blamed the situation on the activities of fish farmers operating upstream, whose continuous discharge of wastewater from fish ponds had affected the performance of the waterworks.
According to him, the activities had also contributed to the spread of water hyacinth and raised environmental and public health concerns.
The commissioner said Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had approved the immediate commencement of rehabilitation works at the facility.
He explained that the first phase would involve evacuating the damaged lamella components and cleaning the treatment basins.
Lade also directed owners of illegal structures and fish ponds located upstream of Asa Dam to remove them ahead of an enforcement exercise by the state government.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Asonibare Christiana, appealed to residents, especially those in areas affected by the disruption, to bear with the government during the rehabilitation period.
She assured that the works would be completed promptly and normal water supply would resume as soon as possible.
