Borehole Drillers Association Begins Action On Code Of Practice
The Borehole Drillers Association of Nigeria says it has begun the implementation of the National Drilling Code of Practice.
Mr Frank Uzoma, the president of the association, told journalists in an interview in Abuja on Monday that the implementation would check arbitrary drilling of boreholes to protect the nation’s groundwater resources.
According to him, the code of practice specifies the minimum requirements for drillers, supervising personnel and equipment to ensure cost effective construction of water well.
Uzoma said that the development of groundwater was one of the sources of interventions to attain water supply for Nigerians.
He, therefore, solicited stiffer penalties for the quacks in the system and urged Nigerians to patronise registered borehole drillers to check inadequate drilling of boreholes
He also advised the Lagos State government not to discourage providers of borehole water as alternative sources of water for the public in an apparent reaction to the state’s statement in that regard.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, had earlier said that the state government would apply charges on commercial users of boreholes.
The commissioner said the government recognised the need to minimise the pollution of the underground water by controlling indiscriminate sinking of boreholes.
“By controlling sinking of boreholes, we would have done a lot to curtail the outbreak of water borne diseases,” he said.
