The Jos Water Services Corporation (JWSC) has decried illegal activities around the Lamingo water dam site, one of its raw sources.

Briefing journalists on Wednesday after the arrest of 44 people on the site by corporation officials and security men, Apollos Samchi, the Managing Director, said that their activities posed a serious threat to the supply of potable water to residents.

Mr Samchi said that the illegal activities around the dam—mining, irrigation farming, and block moulding—posed a serious threat to the quality of raw water.

According to the corporation’s managing director, the activities resulted in the leak of various chemicals and heavy metals into the raw water source. He said this could hamper the state government’s strategic investment in ensuring the provision of potable in the metropolis and the state.

“You see, the illegal miners are mining directly at the bank of the dam, whereby all the residues go directly into the water. Aside from the water being polluted, some of the heavy metals from the mined minerals cannot be treated, which is also a health threat,” the official said.

Mr Samchi said the corporation had issued several warnings to the people engaged in the illegal activities before the raid to vacate the site. He said JWSC had engaged NSCDC services to provide security at the site.

Mr Samchi said the corporation would appeal to the state government to erect a perimeter fence to secure the dam from encroachment and land grabbers.

He said the 44 persons arrested by men of the NSCDC would be prosecuted.

Mr Samchi advised residents in the state to desist from engaging in illegal activities at the dam.

(NAN)