Male' Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) has begun developing a backup water storage system that can supply water for five days.
Speaking to PSM News, Managing Director Hassan Shah said one of most important objectives for the company is to increase the backup water storage capacity as the current storage capacity allows MWSC to only store an amount sufficient for a single day. He said although the plants have the capacity to produce more water, it cannot produce more due to the lack of storage facilities.
The managing director said the administration has been working to resolve the issue, adding the company plans to develop a storage facility that has the capacity to supply water for five days. Shah said the discussions have been completed and the company is now waiting to be provided with the plot of land formely used by State Trading Organisation (STO) to make ready-mix concrete. He said MWSC expects to begin work once the plot is awarded to the company.
The managing director also said the company has contracted the construction of tanks, adding the tanks will be built once the ground clearing and foundation work is complete.
While over 200,000 people live in Male' City, MWSC produces water on a daily basis based on storage capacity and demand. MWSC added extra desalination systems in 2018 which produces 2,000 tonnes every day.
The fire in MWSC in 2014 resulted in a week-long water crisis in the capital city. The company still does not have a proper back-up storage system, despite five years having passed since the incident.