Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Industry | Public utility |
|---|---|
| Founded | April 10, 1973 [1] |
| Headquarters | Monrovia , Liberia |
Key people | Mr. Mohammed Ali [2] |
| Services | Water supply and sanitation |
| Website | lwsc |
Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) is the national public utility responsible for the provision of water supply and sanitation services in Liberia. Established in 1973 by an Act of the National Legislature, the corporation is responsible for the development, operation, and maintenance of public water supply and sewerage systems, with its primary area of operation centered in the capital, Monrovia.[3]
The 1973 National Legislature Act of Liberia established the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation as a successor to earlier public water authorities responsible for urban water supply. Its creation formalized the government's responsibility for centralized water and sewerage services, particularly in Monrovia and other major population centers.[4]
During Liberia's civil wars (1989–2003), much of the country's water infrastructure was damaged or rendered inoperable. Following the end of the conflict, LWSC became a key institution in national reconstruction efforts, undertaking emergency repairs and long-term rehabilitation of water treatment plants, distribution networks, and pumping stations with support from international donors and development agencies.[5]
Governance and regulation
In addition to LWSC's operational mandate, Liberia's water sector has been shaped by legislative efforts to strengthen governance, regulation, and service standards. In 2017, the Liberian Senate and Legislature passed a Water Supply and Sanitation Act establishing a national regulatory framework intended to oversee water supply and sanitation services, including tariff regulation, licensing, and service standards, though full implementation of the regulatory agency has evolved over subsequent years.[6]
Under this framework, the Liberia National Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Commission was later enacted by law to promote and regulate water, sanitation and hygiene sector development and coordination across government ministries, LWSC, and other stakeholders.[7]
Infrastructure and services
The Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) operates a centralized water treatment system primarily for the greater Monrovia area, while most residents, especially in rapidly expanding peri-urban areas, rely on a decentralized network of informal sources.[8]
The main source of water for Monrovia is the St. Paul River, impounded by the Mount Coffee Dam. A 5-kilometer, one-meter diameter pipeline conveys raw water from the dam reservoir to the White Plains Water Treatment Plant in Louisiana, Montserrado County.[9] This pipeline was rehabilitated and re-commissioned in 2019 with an US$18 million grant from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), replacing a degraded line built in 1990. The new intake draws water from upstream in the reservoir to avoid saline intrusion that affected the old downstream intake.[9]
The White Plains plant has a designed treatment capacity of 68,100 cubic meters per day (a level originally achieved in the 1970s).[9] After treatment, water is stored in on-site clear wells with a combined capacity of approximately 2.5 million gallons (9.5 million liters) before being transmitted to the city via 36-inch and 16-inch pipelines. In July 2023, LWSC Managing Director, Alphonso Gaye led a major five-day cleaning, disinfection, and maintenance exercise at the plant to improve water quality and operational consistency.[10]
Ongoing Projects and Modernization
In July 2025, LWSC launched a $1.48 million emergency water connection project aimed at providing piped water to 2,500 underserved households in Greater Monrovia, funded by the World Bank under the Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP).[11]
In October 2025, LWSC launched a separate US$2 million water infrastructure project to extend services to the southeastern region of Liberia, specifically in Pleebo, Maryland County and Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County. The Pleebo component involves drilling three boreholes and constructing a solar-powered system, including a 350 m3 (12,000 cu ft) water tower and 10 km (6.2 mi) of pipeline, aiming to initially benefit 30,000 residents.The Zwedru component focuses on rehabilitating over 10 km (6.2 mi) of damaged distribution lines to reconnect approximately 600 households. A third component for Greenville, Sinoe County was also announced.[12]
Strategic Plan (2025–2029)
In August 2025, the LWSC launched a comprehensive five-year strategic plan outlining its roadmap for the period from 2025 to 2029. The plan, aligned with the national Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development|Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), has a total projected implementation cost of US$156.6 million.[13][14][15]
Key performance targets set by the plan include:
- Doubling household water connections from 15,000 (2024) to 30,000 by 2029.
- Doubling sewer connections from 1,560 to 3,000.
- Increasing revenue collection efficiency from 57% to 95%.
- Reducing dependence on government subsidies from 50% to 20% or less.