This resident of Craigmill in Portland shows the trickle of water left in her container. Sections of the community have beenwithout potable water for the past eight years. - photos by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

What' not working?

Residents of Craigmill in north-west Portland have been waiting by their taps, watching, longing for a drop of water to signal a change in fortunes. But it will be a while yet before citizens there will gush with joy.

Potable water is available in the lower sections of the community, but residents in the district's hillside aren't so lucky. It's a case of the higher the drier.

Residents such as Yule Dixon and Nugent Lowe from the upper regions, for example, have to either retrieve water from the nearby White River or patiently await the arrival of a water truck to deliver their supply.

Synopsis of situation

Some seven years have passed since Yule Dixon was last able to enjoy a shower in her bathroom. To make matters even worse, she is furious that the monthly bills remain high each month with not a drop to drink.

"Is foolishness this! I live here 40 years and for the last seven to eight years, I haven't gotten pipe water but yet the bills come for $5,000 and higher sometimes," Dixon said. "Oftentimes, we have to wait until it rains, then we go to White River to collect water that we need to use. Other than that, there is a truck that comes around that we get water from."

She explained that households pay a set fee for a specified amount of water, but should they desire more, extra fees would be charged.

Nugent Lowe, Craigmill resident of 60 years, echoed similar views. For him it is puzzling how water bills in the area are generally higher than the electricity bills, even though they haven't used their taps in ages. Lowe points to NWC and state neglect, saying the community's cries have fallen on deaf ears.

Many Craigmill citizens source water from White River. By the looks of things, their luck has just about dried up.

Who's responsible?

The National Water Commission (NWC).

What's the status?

Charles Buchanan, corporate communications manager at the NWC, said they are aware of the crisis in Craigmill and have already taken steps to address it. He is asking the community to bear with the NWC a while longer.

In an NWC news release sent to Tyrone's Watch, the root of the problem is that infrastructural development has not kept pace with the population size of the community, causing a shortfall in supply capacity. The current pipe network in the community also needs repair.

The release added that the NWC is currently sourcing a contractor to complete work in the area which the public water provider started in April.

It continued that once a contractor has been employed, all Craigmill residents will "enjoy the convenience of having water at the turn of a tap".

Conclusion

Well, at least some level of work seems to be in the pipeline. Nonetheless, residents want water, not words. It is not certain when the NWC will find a contractor, and that places a damper on the hopes of the anxious residents. Perhaps there is some comfort that the task will be completed in a month after commencement.

- Marlon Vickerman