The Government of the Republic of South Sudan has inaugurated a major urban water supply system in Bor, Jonglei State, marking a transformative milestone in the nation’s efforts to expand access to safe, clean, and affordable drinking water.
The project, implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) and the South Sudan Urban Water Corporation (SSUWC) in collaboration with UNICEF, was supported by the Governments of the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea through KOICA.
The new Bor Urban Water Supply System will provide safe water to more than 96,000 residents of Bor town.
The newly inaugurated facility features a modern water treatment plant with a daily capacity of 4,800 cubic metres, built above flood levels to ensure climate resilience. It includes a water quality laboratory, 28 water kiosks, a 53-kilometre distribution network, a tanker filling station, and a 750-cubic-metre steel storage tank.
Powered by a 240 kWp off-grid solar system, the project reduces carbon emissions and operational costs, setting a national benchmark for sustainable infrastructure.
“On behalf of the Government of South Sudan, I am very grateful for the commissioning of this project, which will help prevent water-related diseases and improve public health in Bor,” said Hon. James Mawich Makuach, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation. “I urge all users to pay for the water and the utility to manage the system sustainably.”
“I am happy that the people of Bor now have access to safe drinking water,” added H.E. Paul Tholen, Ambassador of the Netherlands. “To sustain this service, residents must pay their water bills, and the authorities should reinvest the revenues to maintain and improve the system.”
Access to clean water is expected to bring wide-ranging health and social benefits, particularly for women and children who often bear the burden of fetching water from distant or unsafe sources.
“This project is a transformative step toward ensuring reliable and sustainable water for all,” said H.E. Park Sungsoo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea. “It will enhance public health and restore dignity to women and girls, while also contributing to resilience and peacebuilding in Jonglei State.”
He further noted that Korea’s support to South Sudan extends beyond this initiative, highlighting the Hanbit Unit of the UNMISS peacekeeping mission as part of broader peace and reconstruction efforts in the region.
“Access to clean and safe water is not just about meeting basic needs—it gives every child the chance to grow up healthy, learn, and thrive,” said Noala Skinner, UNICEF Representative in South Sudan. “The Bor Water Supply System has the potential to transform lives, empower women and girls, and build resilience against climate change.”
The Bor Urban Water Supply System stands as a model for durable and climate-resilient water management in South Sudan, promoting peacebuilding, improving health outcomes, and creating socio-economic opportunities through job creation and better hygiene in schools and communities.
