By Kadiatu A. Turay

In New England Ville, a bustling community in Freetown’s Western Urban Area, access to clean and reliable water remains an elusive dream, despite two aging wells serving the neighbourhood, residents grapple with chronic shortages that threaten health, hygiene, and hope prompting urgent pleas for intervention.

The wells, a lifeline for decades, can no longer keep pace with a growing population and rising household demands, compounding the crisis, the Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC), tasked with supplying urban Freetown, has failed to deliver consistent relief, for many, the daily grind of securing water has become a desperate ordeal.

We’ve relied on these wells for over ten years, said Haja Mariama Sesay, a mother of five, some days, there’s barely enough to drink, let alone cook or wash. In the dry season, we’re lining up at 4 a.m. for just a few gallons.

Frustration is boiling over as residents call on the government and aid partners to act, youth leader Mohamed Bangura minced no words, decrying what he termed “systemic neglect, we’re in the heart of Freetown, not some far-flung village, he said, yet clean water feels like a luxury. Guma Valley makes promises, but we see no change.”

GVWC spokesperson Mariatu Jalloh acknowledged the strain, citing aging infrastructure and soaring demand as culprits, we’re aware of New England Ville’s struggles and are working to boost capacity, she said. But technical and financial hurdles mean we need government and donor support to reach everyone.

The stakes are high. Nurse Fatmata Koroma, from a nearby health center, warned of rising waterborne illnesses like typhoid and diarrhoea, when people turn to untreated water, diseases spike, she said, many cases we treat could be prevented with a steady, safe supply.

Civil society is amplifying the alarm. James Conteh, Executive Director of Community Action for Sanitation and Water (CASW), framed water access as a fundamental right, not a perk. New England Ville must be a priority in national water plans, he urged, with smart policies and partnerships, we can end this crisis.

Global players like Water Aid and UNICEF have bolstered water projects in Sierra Leone, but residents and advocates argue for more targeted fixes. Meanwhile, Ward 392 Councillor Isatu Kallon vowed to escalate the issue at the Freetown City Council, our people deserve dignity, she said, I’ll keep pushing Guma Valley, NGOs, and funders until we get results.

As Sierra Leone strives toward Sustainable development Goal clean water and sanitation for all New England Ville’s residents cling to hope. For now, though, the daily scramble for a basic necessity persists, a stark reminder of promises yet unfulfilled.