Banfora: The National Office for Water and Sanitation (ONEA) officially inaugurated the new drinking water treatment plant in Banfora on Monday, a strategic infrastructure designed to sustainably strengthen the drinking water supply in the region.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Director General of ONEA, Flandion Idrissa Sourabi©, explained that the expansion and modernization project has increased the station's production capacity to 200 m³/hour, tripling its initial capacity. This performance now allows the station to better meet the growing needs of the population, while ensuring a more regular and higher-quality water supply.
He indicated that the program also enabled the construction of key infrastructure projects to improve distribution: an 850 m³ reinforced concrete tank for storing treated water, a 300 m³ water tower built on a 15-meter tower in B©r©gadougou, the extension of the distribution network over 178 kilometers, the installation of 2,865 individual connections, and 26 public standpipes. This will ensure sustainable access to drinking water, strengthen resilience to the effects of climate change, and support the economic, health, and social development of the region.
According to the CEO of ONEA, approximately 187,000 people will directly benefit from these achievements. These facilities will help improve pressure in the network and bring drinking water closer to households, thus reducing access difficulties, he added.
After the official inauguration, Minister of State Isma«l Sombi©, accompanied by the Governor of the region, Patrice Y©y©, conducted a guided tour of the drinking water treatment plant facilities to see firsthand how the new equipment was working. The delegation then went to Bodadougou to visit the raw water supply system built from the SOSUCO canal, an essential structure which ensures the completion of the resource towards the treatment plant.
The visit continued in B©r©gadouggou with the discovery of the castle and the distribution infrastructure, intended to improve service to the surrounding localities. At the end of the visit, the minister said he was satisfied with the quality and the calm with which the infrastructure had been built.
According to him, these projects will now prevent the recurring water cuts in the Tannounyan region, particularly in Banfora and B©r©gadougou. "The supply is sufficient to meet the needs," he stated, emphasizing that the goal is to put an end to the problems associated with a lack of drinking water.
He also welcomed the installation of public water fountains in some surrounding villages, making it easier for residents to access water. He added that ONEA (the national water and sanitation company) has been instructed to extend the network to undeveloped areas.
The Minister also noted that these achievements are part of a national emergency plan aimed at increasing the supply of drinking water in all regions served by ONEA. This plan also includes significant reforms, notably the resumption of operations at certain boreholes previously operated under concession agreements by private companies.
He explained that the ambition is to make access to drinking water, a constitutionally recognized right, a reality throughout the entire national territory. It should be noted that this project was made possible through cooperation between the Federal Republic of Germany and Burkina Faso.