Podor: Following Dagana, the 6.8 billion FCFA project to strengthen the drinking water supply has been launched.

Following Dagana, it was Podor's turn to host the official launch of the drinking water supply reinforcement works. The ceremony took place this Thursday in the presence of administrative and territorial authorities, representatives of SONES (the national water company), community stakeholders, and several prominent figures, including the singer Baba Maal.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Water and Sanitation expressed his satisfaction at being in Podor, a city he described as "a city of history and culture." He also praised the warm welcome extended to the government delegation and paid a heartfelt tribute to Baba Maal, "a monument of world music" and a native of Podor.

The minister noted that the works launched are part of a large-scale program to strengthen the drinking water supply, which also covers the towns of Richard-Toll, Dagana, and Matam. With a total cost of 28.5 billion CFA francs, this program allocates 6.8 billion CFA francs to the town of Podor. It is financed by the State of Senegal with support from the West African Development Bank (BOAD).

In Podor, the project notably includes the construction of a new treatment plant with a capacity of 5,000 cubic meters per day. This will bring the city's total production capacity to 6,300 cubic meters per day, a level that should easily cover projected needs by 2050.

A water tower with a capacity of 2,000 cubic meters will also be built. This will be added to the existing 250 cubic meters of storage capacity, bringing the total capacity to 2,250 cubic meters. According to the minister, this will increase the capacity ninefold.

The project also includes strengthening network extensions and installing social connections, particularly in underserved areas like Soumeila and Sinchan. According to the minister, infrastructure development alone is insufficient if people do not have direct access to water in their homes.

"No matter how good our works are, how much they cost, how beautiful or how effective they are, if water doesn't get into houses, into homes, into kitchens and into toilets, for me, there is no result," he insisted.

In this context, the minister announced that he had instructed SONES to accelerate network extensions and social connections to enable vulnerable populations to access drinking water at home.

He also announced the launch of two initiatives: "Yoonoonoor", which aims to establish a permanent dialogue between SONES and community actors, and "Yataal and Yombaal", intended to promote access to drinking water for all, regardless of household income and means.

For the minister, these initiatives reflect the desire to establish a more open and inclusive water governance, involving the State, development partners, populations and community actors.

Through this project, the government aims to provide a sustainable response to population growth and the increasing need for drinking water in the city of Podor. The minister assured that no part of the national territory will be left behind and that the needs of the population, whether living in urban or rural areas, will be addressed within the framework of the national water policy.