An urgent proposal to immediately replace leaking water tanks in the Ramli District has been unanimously approved by the Northern Municipal Council, in a move aimed at sparing families maintenance headaches.
The proposal, submitted by area councillor Abdulla Ashoor and co-signed by services and public utilities committee chairman Abdulla Al Qobaisi, Abdulla Shareeda Al Thawadi and Mohammed Al Dossary, calls for all water tanks serving homes in the area to be comprehensively assessed and replaced where necessary – without residents having to lodge individual maintenance requests.
The move was approved during yesterday’s first meeting of the exceptional term in the presence of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry Assistant Under-Secretary for Acquisition and Municipal Councils Affairs Sadiq Al Sitri and Northern Municipality director-general Mohammed Al Sehli.
The proposal has now been referred to Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak to forward to Housing and Urban Planning Minister Amna Al Romaihi for review.
Mr Ashoor warned that residents were facing a growing problem despite the tanks being covered by warranties of up to 10 years.
“Residents have reported leaks in some tanks before they have even reached five years of service,” he said.
“What may begin as a small leak can quickly become a much bigger problem – wasting large quantities of water, increasing household utility bills and allowing water to collect around roads and public facilities.”
He said the problem should not be tackled house by house, particularly when residents were already reporting lengthy waits after submitting maintenance requests.
“Residents who have contacted the hotline or submitted requests through the ministry’s website can be left waiting for the contractor to inspect the tank and arrange a replacement,” Mr Ashoor said.
“We need a comprehensive solution rather than continuing with individual repairs – we are seeking immediate replacements through the Housing and Urban Planning Ministry.”
The councillor said an automatic assessment of the tanks in all Ramli homes would allow the authorities to identify defective units and act before leaks cause further damage.
Mr Al Qobaisi said the proposal was aimed at protecting residents as well as public infrastructure.
“A water tank is not simply a private household facility when a failure can result in water escaping onto roads and into public areas,” he said.
“Addressing the tanks collectively would be more effective than waiting for every affected resident to raise a separate complaint.”
Mr Al Thawadi stressed the importance of acting on residents’ concerns before they develop into more costly maintenance problems.
“Residents should not have to live with the uncertainty of whether a tank will fail or wait for an extended period after reporting a leak,” he said.
“The priority should be prevention, safety and ensuring that essential housing facilities remain fit for purpose.”
Mr Al Dossary said the proposal reflected the council’s responsibility to respond to problems affecting residents’ daily lives.
“When several residents experience similar problems with the same facility, it makes sense to look at the issue as a whole,” he said.
“A comprehensive assessment could provide the authorities with a clear picture of the condition of the tanks and the action required.”
The Ramli District was opened in December 2019, with residents beginning to move into their government social homes in January 2020.
Nearly seven years after the opening of the district, the councillors are seeking a proactive solution to ensure that ageing or defective water tanks do not become a recurring burden for families.
The proposal calls for the relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive and automatic study of all water tanks in Ramli Housing and take the necessary steps towards replacement, without requiring individual applications from residents.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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