A new water system opened on Thursday in Batil Refugee Camp, Maban County will provide safe drinking water to 40,000 people.

The new system, installed over the past year by humanitarian groups Medair and Solidarites, is capable of distributing 800,000 liters of water a day, according to Medair.

Medair said that residents of Batil Camp, established in 2012, struggled with dehydration and illness when they relied on trucks to bring them their water.

The system includes 18,000 meters of new pipe, 9 storage tanks, and 10 new water tap stands. There are currently around 45 functioning tap stands for the camp population available.

“The new water supply system is a great improvement for the community,” said Vera Wennekers, Medair’s water and sanitation manager.  “They now have a permanent water supply system that is much less susceptible to damage and therefore will ensure greater reliability in the provision of water.”

Wennekers said the new taps will reduce the distance people need to walk to collect water.

Camp residents celebrated the new water system with speeches and dancing in the camp’s reception center.

Celia Gonzales, water and sanitation program coordinator with Solidarites, thanked the refugees and their leaders for helping facilitate construction and urged them to take care of the new water system.

Photo: Collecting water at one of the tap stands delivered by the new water system at Batil Refugee Camp, Maban (Wendy van Amerongen/Medair)