Lives of Cameroonians in danger as CAMWATER supplies dirty water to households

By Washira Helene

Inhabitants of some major towns in Cameroon have complained about the quality of water supplied to households by the country’s water utilities corporation (CAMWATER).

The company is accused of putting the lives of citizens in danger with the supply of water of doubtful quality.

Many say the water supplied is “coloured and sending out the unpleasant odour.”

While this situation is noticed in Bafoussam, Douala, Nkongsamba and Bangangte, Yaounde is rather plagued with water shortage.

“Look at the kind of water they are asking us to consume. Is this the kind of water human beings should be drinking? We cannot even use this to mop our floors with, yet they keep giving us bills to pay,” said an inhabitant of Bagante.

Denizens have expressed fears over the accompanying health hazards, as the situation exposes them to a cholera epidemic.

Calling for the intervention of Water and Energy Minister Eloundou Gaston, they lament imminent danger if something is not done fast.

“I have stopped using water from the tap because it can give my children and me cholera judging from its colour. We now use mostly forage and well water. They look safer than what Camwater gives us,” a denizen from Nkongsamba told MMI.

He called on the minister, “to wake up from sleep. If the problem is coming from the pipes, let them be changed. We need water all the time and it has to be good for usage.”