The FCT Water Treatment Plant, which draws water from the Usuma Dam, is at risk of shutting down due to a shortage of essential chemicals needed for purification, Abuja Metro reports.
Only one of the four treatment plants has been operating in recent months, forcing the FCT Water Board to ration water supply to residents and triggering a growing water crisis across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The key chemicals in short supply include chlorine, used to kill harmful microorganisms; aluminum sulfate (alum), which helps purify water; and other compounds that regulate pH, taste, and odor. Staff revealed that the plant has faced shortages for over a year.
A limited delivery of chemicals last week temporarily prevented a complete shutdown, with two additional truckloads arriving over the weekend.
The shortage has left around 100 permanent staff and numerous casual workers largely idle, affecting operations at both the treatment plants and the attached laboratories responsible for water quality checks.
Communities across Abuja, including Wuse II, Asokoro, Area 1, Area 2, Apo, Galadimawa, Kubwa, Jiwa, Gwagwa, Karmo, and areas along the Abuja-Zuba highway, have experienced reduced or intermittent water supply. Residents report long waits, increased costs from water vendors, and challenges for students and workers who must travel to secure water.
Efforts by Abuja Metro to obtain comments from the FCT Water Board and officials, including General Manager Daniel Salka and Senior Special Assistant Lere Olayinka, were unsuccessful.
The crisis highlights the risks of understocked essential chemicals and the challenges of maintaining reliable water services for Abuja’s growing population.
Daily trust
