Guma Valley Expands Water Infrastructure and Revenue
Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC) has reported improvements in revenue collection, customer metering, institutional management and water infrastructure development during the first year of Ing. Mariwan Kallon’s tenure as Managing Director.
Ing. Kallon, who assumed office on 12 November 2025, marked his first anniversary on Thursday, 12 November 2026, following a year in which the Company introduced several measures aimed at improving its financial performance, strengthening accountability and expanding access to reliable water supply across Freetown and the Western Area.
According to the Company’s Communications Unit, monthly billing increased from Le8.4 million in January 2026 to Le12 million in October, representing a 42.9 per cent rise. Revenue collection also increased from Le7.7 million to Le10 million over the same period, an improvement of 29.9 per cent. The Company attributed the growth to measures introduced to improve revenue mobilisation, including a Revenue Improvement and Bonus Scheme, performance contracts for Area Managers and regular reviews of billing, collections, customer service and operational efficiency.
Efforts to improve customer management and metering have also recorded progress. The number of metered customers increased from 8,516 in November 2025 to 10,216 in October 2026, representing an increase of approximately 20 per cent.
The registered customer base also grew from 31,361 in February 2026 to 32,374 in October 2026. The Company further reported that 281 out of 303 customer complaints recorded between July and September 2026 were resolved, representing a resolution rate of 92.7 per cent. Other interventions include updating customer records, addressing outstanding arrears, identifying illegal connections and improving meter-reading systems.
On staff welfare and institutional management, GVWC said measures have been introduced to improve salary payment regularity, staff allowances, performance appraisal and professional development. Management has also placed emphasis on expenditure control, internal auditing, human resource policies and accountability across departments. Infrastructure development has remained another major focus.
At Babadorie-Regent, the Company reported the completion of an additional phase of raw water storage expansion involving the installation of nine steel tanks with a combined capacity of 60 million litres. The facility is expected to strengthen raw water storage and improve the Company’s ability to manage seasonal variations in supply.
Meanwhile, rehabilitation and expansion works at the Allen Town Water Treatment Plant are ongoing. Upon completion, the facility is expected to provide a treatment capacity of seven million litres per day, alongside a 12.84-kilometre distribution network and more than 1,500 new household connections. The Company also reported progress on the Mortem and Mongegba water supply projects, while the 45-kilometre distribution network under the Freetown Water Supply and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project (WASHAERP) is expected to improve access to water in communities across eastern and western Freetown.
GVWC has also undertaken interventions targeting underserved communities through the installation of community water storage tanks and the establishment of a dedicated Community Services Department to coordinate pro-poor and community water supply initiatives. In addition, the Company has engaged relevant government institutions and local authorities on the protection of water catchment areas and pipeline corridors, particularly in areas affected by encroachment and road construction.
As part of efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and improve service delivery, GVWC hosted a public-private partnership training workshop in March 2026 with support from the African Legal Support Facility of the African Development Bank. The workshop focused on the proposed Mountain Communities Bulk Water Supply Project.
In October 2026, Ing. Kallon also led a delegation to Uganda to study the operations of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, with discussions focusing on utility management, metering, revenue collection, asset management, customer relations and the reduction of non-revenue water.
Despite the reported improvements, the Company continues to face challenges, including increasing water demand, ageing infrastructure, seasonal shortages, financial constraints and high levels of non-revenue water. Looking ahead, GVWC said its Strategic Development Plan for 2027–2031 will guide efforts to expand water access, strengthen infrastructure and asset management, improve financial sustainability and advance digital transformation.
The Company stated that its priority will be to sustain the gains recorded, address existing operational challenges and ensure that ongoing infrastructure investments translate into improved water supply services for residents of Freetown and the Western Area.
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