It is often said that failing to plan is planning to fail. The question one would like to ask is whether this popular saying corresponds with water supply in Cameroon. The answer is a monosyllabic “no” considering that the country has a plethora of plans in form of projects for water supply in the country but is still failing in their implementation. The lackadaisical manner with which such projects are being implemented, has pushed the population to think that the authorities that be had in effect, planned to fail. Several meetings have been organised and projects conceived in a bid to boost potable water supply in our major towns and their environs, but taps when they do exist continue to run dry. One of such meetings was organised in the capital, Yaounde yesterday by the Steering committee for contract reinforcement and Public service concession on water supply in urban and semi-urban areas.

Participants set out to assess some burning issues about water supply, notably the inconsistencies observed and the persistent cuts in potable water supply in the urban areas. In one of the interviews granted CT, the Minister of Water Resources and Energy blamed the situation on the economic crisis that hit the country in the 90s which made it impossible for the country to invest in the water sector. This state of affairs did not certainly stop the population from growing. And so, the demand for water escalated taking the country to where it is today. But as Minister Basile Atangana Kouna assures, hopes are high in the air to catch up with the lateness. In effect, several water supply projects have been conceived, the major one being the capturing and treatment of water from River Sanaga to boost supply in the city of Yaounde and its environs. The multibillion project which will bring in 315,000 cubic metres of water is expected to begin in July and September this year to run for three years.

Pending the effective execution of the various water supply projects earmarked for the country, it is important to note that all what is being done now is occurring behind time. The population is grown and continues to grow. In Yaounde for instance, projections indicate that by 2020, demand for potable water would have hit 254,000 cubic metres. At the moment, Yaounde with its over two million people is experiencing daily demand –supply gap of about 200,000 cubic metres and an estimated daily demand of 311,000 cubic metres. Residents will surely not tell a good story about water to their visitors. Many homes especially those in new neighbourhoods scavenge for water from several doubtful sources. The wealthier ones construct family water systems while the rest manage to dig wells. All attempts at getting CAMWATER/Camerounaise des eaux water connected to their houses end up on the rocks as a result of long complicated and costly procedure. Those who succeed in getting connections find their taps almost permanently dry.

It is good to have a multiplicity of projects as it is happening now, but it is better to get them effectively on board. What makes for a project is its implementation.