The situation is as a result of repairs to reinforce electrical protection around the city’s main reservoir.

Douala inhabitants are thirsty. For some days now, taps have gone dry in many neighbourhoods, causing hygienic problems in toilets that depend on water for flushing. From Bonaberi through Bonamoussadi, to the administrative headquarter, Bonanjo, the cry is the same; “We are dying of thirst!”

The situation has led to a boom in the sale of bottled water by supermarkets and shops. Households, notwithstanding their financial situation, are obliged to buy a10-litre bottle of table water for 1,250 FCFA, which barely quenches the thirst of family members. While families that barely survive manage the 10 litres for two days, few wealthy families use the bottled water not only for drinking, but also for household chores like washing and cooking.

Meanwhile, the crisis has created a boom in the sale of water from treated wells.

One hardly moves 15 metres without coming across groups of persons roaming the streets with empty containers and those returning from far distances with gallons of water. Owners of wells sell a 20-litre container of water for between 50 FCFA and 100 FCFA. Others, who give out the precious liquid free of charge, impose timeframes on those who come to draw the water.

Rachael, who resides in New-Bell, refills her containers daily at her former landlord’s treated well in Bonapriso. Though she drives to Bonapriso for it, she complains that the exercise contributes to her going late to work since she has other chores to do besides fetching water. Some students and pupils equally suffer the consequences of water scarcity as they are punished for coming late. This is often as a result of drawing water from wells and carrying out morning chores late.

The CDE Regional Director for Douala area, Chatue, explained that the water crisis began following repairs being carried out to reinforce the capacity of electrical protection of the 150,000-metre cubic water reservoir, the biggest in the sub-region. He called on the people to be patient, assuring that taps in the city will start flowing again by the evening of March 3, 2016. As at press time, yesterday, March 3, 2016, at 4 pm, many Douala residents were still crowded around wells, hoping to have potable water soon.