Ogun State Water Corporation (OGSWC) has disclosed that a major crackdown is underway to address the illegalities perpetrated by some individuals who engage in illegal water connections, meter bypasses as well as unauthorised service lines.

This was made known by the Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Water Resources, Hon. Damilola Otubanjo, at her office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, saying several households routinely engaged unaccredited plumbers to bypass meters, often to avoid vending centres and consume unmetered water.

She said that such actions had disrupted the smooth running of the Corporation as commensurate revenue that should be accruable for the service provided could not be achieved, calling on the general public to join in the campaign against illegal connections, speak up against vandalism of pipelines and support the Corporation’s drive to continue in providing clean, portable treated water to household and commercial establishments across the State.

"There are instances where individuals executed unauthorised tap-downs on existing service lines extended to prospective neighbourhoods and even operated commercial water businesses illegally tapped into the State’s main distribution network," she stated.

The SA further asserted that when individuals tapped or bypassed the network, they not only robbed the corporation, but also deprived paying customers of adequate water supply, emphasising that such illegal activities severely undermined Government's efforts to supply clean, reliable water to legitimate users who abide by the rules.

 She thereafter, urged all residents currently using unauthorised connections to regularise their status immediately at the nearest agency office to avoid heavy penalties and prosecution.