By Amos Harris
More than 400 residents of Weah Village in District #1, Maryland County, are appealing to the Government of Liberia and international humanitarian organizations for urgent intervention, warning that their sole source of drinking water is exposing the entire community to severe health risks.
For years, community members have relied exclusively on a local creek for drinking, cooking, bathing, and washing. However, escalating fears over possible toxic contamination have raised serious questions about the safety of the water supply.
Residents explain that the creek runs parallel to a major highway where multiple motor vehicle accidents have occurred over time. This proximity has sparked widespread alarm that spilled motor oil, diesel fuel, metallic debris, and hazardous road runoff are continuously washing into their primary water intake.
The situation worsens dramatically during the heavy rainy season, when unchecked surface runoff from the highway and surrounding terrain drains directly into the stream. Health advocates warn that this unchecked flow severely elevates the risk of life-threatening waterborne illnesses, including typhoid fever, cholera, and dysentery.
“We have no other choice; this is the only water we drink and cook with,” explained one concerned resident. “Every time it rains, we see oil slicks and dirt wash directly into the creek. We are deeply afraid for the safety of our children.”
Women and children, who bear the primary domestic burden of fetching water, report noticeable shifts in both the color and odor of the stream following major downpours. The absence of filtration or alternative supplies forces the community to consume the potentially compromised water regardless of these warning signs.
Consequently, the people of Weah Village are urging the central government, District #1 Representative P. Mike Jurry, and local non-governmental organizations to immediately install hand pumps or construct protected, deep-borehole wells. Community advocates stress that the lack of clean water not only threatens public health but also forces women and children to endure grueling hours searching for alternative sources, creating unnecessary physical and social hardship.
When contacted regarding the crisis, Representative P. Mike Jurry stated that the specific plight of Weah Village had not previously been formally brought to his office’s attention. He pledged that a team of field engineers would be dispatched to the village next week to conduct a comprehensive structural and environmental assessment.
“Clean water is a fundamental human right,” Representative Jurry declared. “Once our technical assessment is complete, we will collaborate with development partners to implement a sustainable, long-term solution for the people of Weah Village.”
Regional public health officials emphasize that rural communities reliant on open, unprotected surface water remain exceedingly vulnerable during active rainfall cycles when biological and chemical contaminants spread rapidly. As Weah Village awaits the promised technical evaluation, residents remain hopeful that official promises will quickly translate into safe, clean drinking water infrastructure.