PHOTO: Rev. Tailey W. Garley
By Alfred Kollie, email: alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
The Chief Executive Officer of a local Mineral water factory, Light Pure Mineral Water wants authorities in Water sector do all they can by robustly regulating the water production companies for quality, qualify, safe and standard water production.
Rev. Tailey W. Garley said the sector or water companies need to be regulated and regularly visited, most especially sectors that deals with water and food for the safety of the public.
“I am not saying that we don’t have safe and standard water on the market but there are water on the market that are not up to standard and that is the reason i am calling on the authority to go in the market and make sure that there are standard water on the market,” Rev. Garley noted.
Speaking Thursday March 4, 2021 in an interview in Margibi County, Rev. Garley called on the Wash Communication and other authorities to visit production sites and access hygiene, environment, water source and filters regularly in order to have safe, clean, quality, qualify and standard water on the market.
“Since I started my water business, i alone with my entire house hold drink our own water all because we treat it properly. I have the water and hygiene certificate, Ministry of Health regularly test my water after every three months EPA also regularly visit my Company. I am in good complaince and have qualify and standard water” He narrated.
Liberia’s mineral water industry continues to take center stage and boom as the sector moves to increase the production across the Country.
Made-in-Liberia mineral water is found in all neighborhood, shops, restaurants, and street corners in major cities and towns in Liberia with majority going after it.
According to Rev. Garley, the major challenges in the water industry especially on small skill level are capital, mobility and electricity among others as major factors affecting the sectors that he observed.
” I think water business is a very good business. Since i enter the industry two years ago, there are some challenges and some prospect but generally i think the business is doing well” He explained.
The CEO of the Light Pure Mineral Water Company is however urging Water producers to follow all of the measures that will help in producing safe, calen and standard water on the market.
He wants water producers in Liberia increase production capacity, create sub stations, Outlets to enable them reach out to majority of the population in several parts of Liberia.
Years ago the government of Liberia under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf increased duty or tariff on imported mineral water and reduced taxes on locally produced water thereby increasing the production of made- in Liberia mineral water in the country.
According to government, the decision was aimed at encouraging Liberian-owned water companies to add more value to their products and take no chance with their product integrity.
Liberian entrepreneurs became interested in this sector in recent years. However, the business has continued to expand largely.
Mineral water producers in Liberia, like others in the sub-region, package their water in plastic sachets and bottles.
Pipe borne water is very scarce in Monrovia where nearly two million people live.
Electricity and water supply sources continues to affect many water companies and communities, most community now depend on mineral water believing that the locally produce mineral water is safe.
The National Wash Commission has regulations regarding to construction of wells, to ensure safe access to water, a service that is sometimes ignored to the detriment of many communities.
In many quarters, septic tanks are built in yards without the foresight of a well for drinking and domestic use.Subsequent wells dug too close to septic tanks cause water to be polluted, thus causing many people to fall victim to diarrhea or even cholera.