Lagos — One billion people don't have access to clean water on the planet, which is one-sixth of the people living on earth. Considering the chemical composition of water which is H2O: two parts hydrogen, one part oxygen, one would say it is easy to get. To a large extent it is, but in pure quantity that will do the body good, it is difficult to get and the importance of water, which is said to be next to air to human being and other living creatures, makes it pertinent that it must be provided at all cost.

The importance of water cannot be underscored because it is involved in all bodily functions: digestion, assimilation, elimination, respiration, maintaining temperature (homeostasis) integrity and the strength of all bodily structures. With two thirds of the earth's surface covered by water and the human body consisting of 75 per cent of it, it is evidently clear that water is one of the prime elements responsible for life on earth.

Water circulates through the land just as it does through the human body, transporting, dissolving, replenishing nutrients and organic matter, while carrying away waste material. Further in the body, it regulates the activities of fluids, tissues, cells, lymph, blood and glandular secretions.

An average adult body contains 42 litres of water and with just a small loss of 2.7 litres he or she can suffer from dehydration, displaying symptoms of irritability, fatigue, nervousness, dizziness, weakness, headaches and consequently reach a state of pathology. Batmanghelidj, in his book 'Your Body's Many Cries for Water', emphasised on water and its vital role in the health of water 'starved' society. He writes: "Since the 'water' we drink provides for cell function and its volume requirements, the decrease in our daily water intake affects the efficiency of cell activity...as a result; chronic dehydration causes symptoms that equal disease...."

It must be emphasised that water makes up more than two thirds of the weight of the human body, and without it, humans would die in few days. The human brain is made up of 95 per cent water, blood consists 82 per cent of water and lungs is essentially made of 90 per cent water. A mere two per cent drop in human's body's water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory.

The importance of water is not lost in the administration of Governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno State after it became one of the campaign issues during the 2003 election. Sheriff prevailed and immediately swung into action after the mantle of leadership was handed over to him; his first official visits were at different water facilities in the state. This commitment was in 2003 and he has not looked back as water which was a problem prior to his reign is no more a big issue. After all, there can be water in the desert.

The state Ministry of Urban and Rural Water Supply saddled with the responsibilities of securing for present and future generations as well as for the commercial and industrial consumers potable water; procurement for distribution to all residence of the state sufficient potable water for their health and well being and the achievement of a sustainable water system development of the state.

The ministry now under the leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Kyari had to search deep in a state largely a desert environment, with the ever present characteristic of difficulty in getting water. The Maiduguri Water Treatment Plant built during the Mohammed Goni administration which was performing below par had to be revived and it is presently producing 35 million litres per day and contributing 60 per cent of water needed by people of Maiduguri and Jere.

To perform optimally, a total of thirteen new generators have been procured since 2003 with over 120 trucks of diesel bought to fuel the treatment plant when it was realised that the public power supply can no more be relied upon. In fact the treatment plant consumes about N14 million worth of diesel monthly and it stores up rain and river water, which it then treats and made pure for consumption in homes.

Apart from the bills that the state pays to power the plant, it also spends between N250 and N300 million yearly to procure water treatment chemicals. The water plant is expensive to maintain and the state government recently made available several millions of naira to buy three water pumps which brought back the plant to life. Because of the inefficiency of public power supply, the directorate of electrical and mechanical of the ministry have been made to purchase two higher capacity generating sets; procurement of sixteen heavy duty generating sets for water treatment plant, main water works and various boreholes, service parts and lubricants for the existing boreholes.

The Sheriff administration also in order to bring potable water to every doorstep at the 777 Housing Estate, installed water pipelines for effective distribution network, fabrication and erection of overhead tanks, construction of standard generator rooms and underground water reservoirs. At the Abba Gana Terab Housing Estate, water supply pipeline distribution network was provided, including fabrication and erection of overhead tanks and construction of standard generator rooms.

At the Maiduguri Water Treatment Plant, which is the major suppliers of potable water in the state, both the chemical buildings and mechanical workshop were renovated. The Maiduguri new government lodge was provided with water supply pipeline distribution network, while overhead tanks were fabricated and erected as well as a standard generator room.

In order to get water to all nooks and crannies of the state, the Rural Water Supply Agency was vested with the responsibility of drilling boreholes both in rural and urban areas in the state and it has been able to drill over 250 boreholes since 2007 and 2009. This is apart from drilling two lower aquifer boreholes, one each at 777 Housing Estate and Abba Gana Terab Housing Estate with a depth of 560 metres and 625 metres, maximum yield of 30 litres per second and 32 litres per second respectively. And to be able to perform effectively, it has five drilling rigs, three lorry mounted compressors, four 33,000 litres capacity water tankers, 11,000 litres water tanker, eight Toyota double cabin vehicles and three lorry crane vehicles.

The heavy investment of the Sheriff administration, which has been yielding results may have be responsible for the easy conquest of a second term in office which was a milestone achievement as the only one to have so enjoyed the status in the annals of the state, though the opposition tried to discredit its achievements in this sector knowing fully well that it remains a portent force to either enthrone or dethrone a government especially in a desert place where water is more than life.

On the rationale behind the heavy investment in water, the State Commissioner for Urban and Rural Water Supply, Alhaji Abubakar Kyari asked if not water what else do you expect a government to invest heavily on? He said it is a known fact that who gives water gives life and we want a living people in the state and you know it is hard and expensive to get water in the desert and the government has to do everything to get its people water.

He said though the government has done a lot but "we are still not satisfied yet, we will only be satisfied when there is tap running in every home. We cannot deny the fact that the task is Herculean but where there is a will, they say there is a way. We are not folding our arms satisfied with our achievements yet, we still have about two years left and we are going to continue doing our very best for our people, they deserve it for they have sought for it under every weather."