SOUTH SUDAN: Torit’s water system is rehabilitated, increasing coverage to over 80%
The town of Torit, in the state of Eastern Equatoria in Southern Sudan, now has a more efficient drinking water supply system. Recently rehabilitated by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the system has been supplying more than 80% of the population since it came into service.
The Torit drinking water supply system was re-commissioned on 22 July 2024 after more than two years’ work, by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the German government, which provided funding of $2 million via the German development agency (KfW), and technical assistance through the German Agency for International Development Cooperation (GIZ). The technical assistance consisted specifically of technical training to ensure the operation and maintenance of the system.
More than 80% of the city’s population now has access to clean water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “Without clean, safe water, vulnerable communities in Southern Sudan will lose the fight against poverty and water-borne diseases. We are delighted that 43,800 people, mainly women and children, will benefit from clean and safe water thanks to this project, which will improve sanitation and hygiene in households, health facilities and schools,” said Hamida Lasseko, UNICEF’s representative in Southern Sudan, when the Torit drinking water system was brought back into service.
A solar-powered system
According to UNICEF, which implemented the project, Torit’s improved supply system includes two boreholes equipped with more environmentally-friendly and cost-effective solar-powered submersible pumps, a 25-kilometre piped distribution network and an additional 500 m3 reservoir, increasing total storage capacity by 50%.
The project has also added 25 new water kiosks to the existing eight in Torit, reaching more people and reducing the distance to water collection points. The existing system has also been fitted with a chlorine dosing mechanism to minimise the risk of contamination during collection and storage in order to guarantee water safety.
Work to rehabilitate and expand Torit’s drinking water supply system began in November 2022 and is being carried out in two phases.
Cover photo: By AFRIK21
