A critical water pipeline supplying Bor, the capital of Jonglei State, was accidentally damaged last week by an excavator, plunging the town into a severe water crisis and raising questions about oversight.
The disruption occurred during excavation work for new water channels, completely halting the town’s water supply.
Moses Mayol Ayuen, manager of the South Sudan Urban Water Corporation in Bor, confirmed the incident in an interview with Radio Tamazuj.
“A pipe was accidentally severed by an excavator,” he said, acknowledging the immediate suspension of water services.
Repair crews are on-site, and the corporation is procuring spare parts, though no definitive timeline for restoration has been provided.
“We are working to resolve this as soon as possible,” Mayol said.
Arrests Made
Two individuals—the excavator’s driver and a local area chief—have been detained in connection with the damage, though officials have not disclosed whether negligence or procedural failures contributed to the incident.
Residents and civil society members are demanding answers.
Bol Deng Bol, executive director of Intrepid South Sudan and chairperson of the Jonglei Civil Society Network, called the incident a “serious failure of coordination and oversight.”
“It is unacceptable that a project meant to improve water access has resulted in the town’s entire water supply being cut off,” Bol said. He urged a full investigation to hold those responsible accountable and prevent future breakdowns.
With no running water, Bor’s residents are resorting to unsafe alternatives, including untreated water from the Nile River and overstretched boreholes.
Peter Ajak Ayom, a local resident, described the crisis as “bad for families and all residents.”
“People walk for hours to fetch water, and even then, it’s often unclean,” he said.
Mary Achol, another resident, voiced fears over disease outbreaks.
“How could this happen?” she asked. “Now we must struggle every day just to find clean water for our children.”