In a major step toward strengthening water security and ensuring sustainable service delivery in the Western Area, the Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC) has on Friday 2nd May 2025 completed a comprehensive virtual inspection of the Guma Dam infrastructure at Mile 13, Sussex.
Conducted in partnership with the World Bank, the inspection utilized advanced remote sensing technologies and satellite imagery to evaluate the structural integrity, hydrological performance, and environmental conditions of the dam.
This approach enabled Guma to maintain critical oversight of Freetown’s primary urban water source while overcoming logistical challenges posed by full-scale physical mobilization.
“This exercise has enabled us to gather critical data on the state of the dam without the need for full-scale physical mobilization,” said Ing. Maada S. Kpenge, the utility’s Managing Director. “It underscores our commitment to leveraging innovation for better water management and infrastructure resilience.”
The inspection findings confirmed that the dam is structurally sound, but however, raised serious concerns over escalating encroachment and environmental degradation within the catchment area; threats that could undermine water quality and long-term availability if left unaddressed.
Guma Valley Water Company continues to advocate for a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach to protect the Guma Valley catchment, which comprises ecologically sensitive forest zones supplying raw water to the dam and treatment facility.
The company is urging stronger enforcement of environmental regulations, greater community engagement, and closer collaboration with local authorities to curb illegal deforestation and unregulated settlement expansion.
“Protecting our water sources goes beyond engineering; it requires the collective responsibility of government, communities, and stakeholders,” Ing. Kpenge emphasized. “Without a robust action for catchment management, all the investments we make in infrastructure could be undermined.”
As part of its next steps, Guma plans to integrate the virtual inspection data into its broader asset management and climate adaptation strategies. With Freetown experiencing rapid urban growth and increasingly erratic rainfall patterns due to climate change, the company is prioritizing data-driven planning to ensure continued water supply for the city’s growing population.
Built in the 1960s, the Guma Dam remains the cornerstone of Freetown’s water supply system; the company’s forward-looking approach reflects its commitment to digital transformation and sustainable water governance, and continues to seek strategic partnerships, both local and international, to safeguard this vital resource for future generations.
This initiative builds on a 2020 assessment led by the Millennium Challenge Coordinating Unit (MCCU) and consulting firm COBA/CONCEPT, which similarly confirmed that no major structural repairs were needed. However, that earlier report emphasized the need for ongoing maintenance and infrastructure upgrades, priorities that Guma remains firmly committed to advancing.
Guma Communications Unit
3rd May 2025
