The Enugu State Ministry of Water Resources has given water tanker drivers an April 30 deadline to paint their tankers with government-approved colours.

The state Commissioner for Water Resources, Felix Nnamani, gave the deadline in a statement on Sunday in Enugu.

He said, “Tanker owners and drivers must colour-coat their tankers with sky blue if they are carrying drinking water or yellow if they are for industrial water.”

Mr Nnamani added that the type of water must be boldly written on both sides and at the back of the tanker.

He said the directive was in an effort to protect the state residents against water-borne diseases and ensure effective distribution of potable water to the residents.

Mr Nnamani said an extended six-month window for the compliance, as provided by Enugu State Water Sector Law, 2023, would elapse at the end of April, while enforcement would begin on May 1.

He noted that the extended widow took effect from November 2023.

“Please be properly guided,” he advised.

The government, through its secretary, Chidiebere Onyia, on March 20, expressed dismay that many tanker drivers brought water from anywhere and sold to the residents as drinking water.

Mr Onyia warned that the current administration would not condone such a practice.

According to him, an enforcement team from the state Ministry of Water Resources will be randomly stopping tankers to check the quality of the water they carry.

(NAN)