The Cross River State Government has begun enforcing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) regulations, warning operators engaged in illegal borehole drilling and water supply services to obtain the necessary registration and licences or face sanctions.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Obol Moses Osogi, disclosed this in a statement, saying the enforcement followed the increasing rate of indiscriminate borehole drilling, proliferation of unregistered operators and violations of technical standards across the state.

Osogi said the proliferation of poorly regulated boreholes posed risks to public health, groundwater resources and the environment, stressing that access to safe water could only be guaranteed when water infrastructure met approved regulatory standards.

He said the government would no longer tolerate unregulated activities in the water sector, adding that the ministry, in collaboration with relevant regulatory agencies and stakeholders, would intensify monitoring, inspection and compliance checks across the state.

Under the enforcement regime, borehole drilling companies, consultants, developers, institutions and water service providers are required to obtain registration and licences from the Ministry of Water Resources before undertaking drilling, rehabilitation, water installation or related services.

The government also directed that no borehole project should commence without the required permit or authorisation from the designated regulatory authority.

It further mandated that proposed borehole projects undergo geophysical and geological investigations before drilling. Operators are also required to use approved drilling methods and standard materials, comply with proper casing and grouting procedures, and conduct water quality tests before commissioning.

According to the commissioner, operators must maintain drilling logs, pumping test records and completion reports, while adopting environmentally responsible practices, including the safe disposal of drilling waste to prevent groundwater contamination.

The government urged residents, schools, hospitals, hotels, industries, estate developers and community organisations to patronise only licensed borehole contractors.

They were also advised to demand evidence of registration, permits and water quality certification before engaging contractors.

Osogi warned that enforcement teams would be deployed across the state to identify violators, saying operators found drilling without authorisation, operating without registration, falsifying records or breaching technical standards could face fines, closure and prosecution.

He stressed that the exercise was not intended to hinder legitimate businesses but to sanitise the water sector, protect consumers, preserve groundwater resources and ensure access to safe drinking water.

Reaffirming the state’s commitment to national WASH objectives and Sustainable Development Goal Six on clean water and sanitation, Osogi said compliance with the regulations was mandatory.

“Safe water is not negotiable. Public health is not optional. Compliance is mandatory,” he said.