About 2,794 water facilities designed to boost access to potable water supply have been identified across the state.
A breakdown of this figure shows that, 1,015 of the water scheme are functional, while 1,776 are non-functional.
According to statistics made available to newsmen by the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, the Federal Government owns 131 facilities, out of which 25 are functional, while 106 are not functional, Rivers State Government owns 1,362 of the facilities, out of which 478 are functional while 884 are non-functional just as the various local government councils own 637, out of which, 249 are functional while 390 are non-functional..
The report further indicated that oil companies operating in the state provided 266 out of which 115 are functional, while 14.8 are non-functional just as communities constructed 218 through self-help, out which 125 are functional while 93 are non-functional.
Others include Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which provided 104, with 15 functional and 89 non-functional; Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA) has 36, with just 3 functional and 33 non-functional while other agencies own 38 out of which 5 are functional and 33 non-functional.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi has inaugurated the state water coordination committee.
Governor Amaechi, who inaugurated the committee during the Rivers State Water Sector Development Conference in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday said that the policies of the state government in the water sector had been acknowledged by the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB).
The governor also charged the African Development Bank to hasten the process of releasing its counterpart funding to enable the water project take off.
In her welcome address, the Rivers State Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Ms Patricia Simon-Hart said the government had decided to reform the water sector to ensure sound water governance and strengthen the institutions to deliver services effectively.
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru (right), chatting with Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Information and Training, Hon Onari Brown, during the Open Governance Forum with civil society organisations in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo:Chris Monyanaga