By: Saidu Jalloh
At the recent 2025 Fiscal Year budget presentation held at the Ministry of Finance in Freetown, the Managing Director of Guma Valley Water Company Ing. Maada Kpenge reported that government institutions owe approximately SLE 32 million in outstanding water bills.
This significant debt highlights the need for timely payments to ensure the sustainability of water services.
For the first half of 2024, Guma Valley Water Company reported a revenue collection of SLE 33.6 million. Looking ahead, their budget assumption for FY 2025 is set at SLE 93.025 million.
The budget would support critical projects, including the installation of 15,000 customer meters and adjustments to water tariffs to accommodate rising fuel and chemical costs.
Guma Valley Water Company committed to protecting water catchments from human activity and deforestation. Under the Freetown WASH project, GVWC made substantial progress with contracts awarded to China Henan International Corporation Group to enhance water capacity and infrastructure.
Recent achievements include the distribution of 45 km of network, a 2,000 m³ treated water reservoir and ongoing connections for 2,000 services. Guma Valley repaired key infrastructure such as the Kongo Dam and various pumping stations, funded by AfDB and other sources.
The company’s goals for 2025 include increasing access to clean drinking water by 85% by 2028, resolving customer complaints, reducing non-revenue water by 10%, and protecting catchment areas through stakeholder engagement.
Guma Valley Water Company remains focused on expanding and improving water services to meet the growing needs of Freetown’s residents.
