Port Moresby running low on water

PORT MORESBY – Water rationing has been introduced in Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, as the city tries to cope with a severe dry spell in the midst of a crippling drought affecting most of the country.

Paul Gore, the general manager of operations at the city’s water supplier, Eda Ranu, says the Surinumu dam is at only 35 per cent capacity, and little heavy rain is expected for months.

He says drastic measures are needed to maintain that level for the next ten months, and people need to cut down on their water use.

Gore says the sections of the city’s water network will be shut down every day.

“It’s a six hour interval. So some sections of the city will receive water for six hours, and then we will shut them off for another six hours, and then they will receive it for another six hours, and then we cut them off for another six hours.” He says with little rain forecast for another few months, the dam’s capacity needs to be maintained.

“The current level we have is to last about seven to eight months, but we want to extend it further to about 10 or 12 if there is no rain in December, January, February and going towards April. The idea is to actually hold the current water level there just to maintain for the consumption only.”

Gore says residents should conserve as much water as possible, and refrain from activities such as washing their cars.

- RNZI