Guma Valley complains of an ongoing bushfire in the vicinity of the Guma Dam.

In a recent press release, the Guma Valley Water Company expresses concern over an ongoing bushfires between the Baw Baw and No. 2 River communities, which share close proximity to the main Guma Dam.

Guma Valley Water Company is Sierra Leone’s largest water supplier, and the company relies principally on a single source, which is the Guma Dam and Guma Water Treatment Plant at the Mile 13 community.

In the release, Guma claims that these bush fires are primarily caused by human activities, which poses serious threat to the Guma Dam.

According to the nation’s leading water supplier, the impact of these fires is far-reaching. They assert these fires will increase the risk of water shortage due to reduced water quality and quantity, especially in the dry season. They also added that the widespread of these fire is also contributing to the loss of biodiversity.

The biodiversity includes wildlife animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms. The management of Guma continues that the burning of trees will destroy the ecosystem and leave prolonged environmental damage.

Moreover, Guma continues that the destruction of the vegetation also weakens the soil, increasing the risk of erosion, landslide, and mudslide, and subsequently affects the water catchments.

GVWC conclude by calling on the stakeholders and public to collaborate to end human activities that are detrimental to ecosystem and focus in protecting and safeguarding our ecosystem.