By Claudia Redwood-Sawyerr
The Managing Director of the Guma Valley Water Company, Mariwan Kallon, has outlined ongoing efforts to address persistent water supply challenges in Freetown, particularly during the dry season when demand significantly exceeds supply.
Speaking at the weekly government press conference, on Tuesday April 7, 2026, at the Miatta Civic Center, Mr Kallon noted that water scarcity remains a seasonal challenge, as the Guma Dam, constructed in 1961 for a population of about 500,000, now serves over 1.5 million people. “During the dry season, we must carefully manage the available supply to ensure continuity throughout the year,” he said.
A major concern highlighted was non-revenue water which is treated water lost through leakages, illegal connections, and system inefficiencies. The Guma boss explained that both physical losses, such as pipe bursts, and commercial losses, including meter bypassing, continue to affect distribution. “If it is not properly managed, and if we lack the technical capacity… the desired results will not be achieved,” he stated.
To tackle these challenges, Guma has intensified leak repairs, extended pipelines closer to communities, and introduced a Community Services Department. In the past three months, over 366 large-capacity water tanks have been installed across Freetown to improve access. The company is also working with law enforcement to curb illegal connections and deploying meters to better monitor usage, the Managing Director elaborated.
According to him, about 10,000 meters are ready for installation, with an additional 23,000 expected through World Bank support. He added that Guma has shifted to proactive maintenance, investing heavily in infrastructure repairs to prevent system failures.
To manage limited supply, Mr Kallon informed that the city has been divided into six zones under a rationing system, with each receiving water on a
