CAUSES of the recent outbreak of cholera in parts of Ebonyi State may not be far from untreated water, especially from boreholes, which the Ebonyi Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (EBRUWASA) said lack technical finesse, not properly supervised, shallow and of poor water quality.

The agency added that over 3,000 of them were currently dilapidated. Addressing journalists in Abakaliki yesterday, EBRUWASA Ag. General Manager, Sunday Opoke, said the situation has made it difficult for the rural dwellers to access water. This has forced them to other poor water sources like streams and rivers, among others.

He disclosed that these dilapidated boreholes were designed and shoddily built by some non-governmental bodies. According to him, the agency recently visited one of the cholera-affected communities, Ndieze-Ndiogbu community in Izzi local council, and discovered that five villages in the community do not have boreholes at all.

However, “despite its poor finances, EBRUWASA has repaired some boreholes at Amasiri in Izzi council, among others, and will soon repair others at Ezza North and Ezza South councils,” Opoke said.