Water Tank Stands: Dangers and Costly Mistakes

Presently, over 70% of water tank stands in the Gambia are erected with questionable material, and we can assume some or many African countries are doing the same. As the proposed picture of the article may show, we largely have three types of stands in the Gambia. A fairly thin metal with no paint; the same type of metal but painted; and the concrete type of pillars. A possible fourth type of ‘galvanised’ may exist in much smaller numbers, but even such metals are not ideal. As said, over 70% of them are metal, and a bigger chunk of those are not even painted. They exist in mainly compounds and public places with boreholes, to help store water and facilitate pressure through gravity. The looming dangers are ignored by the central government, the opposition leaders, the journalists, and ultimately individuals who should know better. Good governments and even opposition leaders should at least advise, then the central government should regulate where it needs to . If we understand that the ordinary folks hardly know, may blindly copy questionable ways, and our responsibilities through ch.103 as interrelated creatures in many ways, then our obligation to advise is universal, not just national.

Facts they may Misinterpret: According to the Internet, ‘untreated metal sheds may last ten to fifteen years’, based on average. So seeing a few that last about five or twenty years is not just exceptions, but could be due to environmental factors and other things. Much more important is to understand a metal shed may last much longer than a high metal stand. Every summer or windy rain, such stands are undergoing micro-damages through shaking, plus other degradation like rust. Any serious journalist+ who researches metal sheds can make smarter conclusions that untreated metal stands are likely to have shorter lifespans. Don't treat them as metal sheds when calculating when to bring them down safely.

Dangers: The height of these water tanks can be between the level of two to three story buildings. Untreated metal cannot withstand the effects of rain for about two decades. A big chunk of these stands will pose dangers within five to ten years, or 20 years at most. It will weaken, corrode, and eventually fall. A falling metal with gravity on children or even adults can be extremely dangerous. One of the pictures I am submitting is next to a mosque inside Lamin Daranka Lower Basic School. Two public places, so the probability of harm is heightened, and it is puzzling how people lack the foresight of what may happen. I estimate at least 25 to 50 such dangerous stands within 500 compounds of the poor neighbourhood called the triangle , in Lamin Daranka. By the way, only one compound has a concrete stand in my neighbourhood, based on my long walk (sighting). Meaning thousands of these dangerous stands are in tiny Gambia, and perhaps millions in Africa.

For every thousand dangerous stands, we can estimate two to ten people may unnecessarily get hurt. That may sound like a small number, except it is essentially avoidable harm and you will hate to be among the victims. How many may end up at the hospital against all of us , or even die prematurely?

The Costly Mistakes: People just tend to blindly copy each other, without thinking. After little research, I discovered metal workers are charging about D25,000 (about $350) for these stands, including the metal material but excluding the cement and other tiny concrete they will use as foundation, rooting. Why would you spend about $350 on a dangerous stand every five to ten years, when you can spend $200 to $500 to last over one hundred years? Only blind copying and lack of sensitization are to blame. The rain water and air will certainly damage these untreated metals. Painting them may slow down the damage for months or a few years, but even annual paint may not save you. A heavy storm after the metal is weakened may mean people are inside, but a weakened metal can cave any time, while you, your child, or even a neighbour was just passing by.

Better Alternative: Concrete pillar(s) can even be cheaper than these metal stands. I am fairly certain that one big concrete pillar with concrete or xyz at the top will last a lot longer than four metal pillars with so-called supporting beams. You can doubt my claim, but can government research with enough depth beyond the average tree or the foundation requirement of a three story building. The government can erect ten 'one pillar stands, ten two pillars stands, ten three pillars stands, because some cannot envision lower than four pillars? The diameter of a two thousand liters water tank on one or two pillars is very safe, certainly safer than these untreated metals. You will just need a ladder or two to raise and access the tank. I don't think there is much debate that concrete will be much stronger, so let us move towards cost.

Based on my little research, a truck load of sand and gravel is about D6000 each in the Gambia and how much in your country? Of course that may be too much for even four pillars. Then how many bags of cement and rods do you think will do per pillar? We can prefabricate interlocking concrete pillars or fortify them with beams if we are using two or more pillars. Meaning it can be about half a day's work for literate laborers, no masoner needed? Well, my name is Jarga or mr. Camera, and I may demand on-camera work on such if I was heading the government. Now, you can see why I roughly estimate the concrete can be $200 to $500, because how many pillars are you comfortable with? The size of the pillar and the depth to be buried is where the debate is for engineers and politicians who care.

Again, on advice, I think it is a collective responsibility or collective failure, except Jarga. If I had a political party, I would have produced countless sensitization videos. In this example: The government of Barrow, Tinubu, Mahama, Faye, etc are ignoring their responsibility to even advise the citizens. Over 70% of our water tank stands are unacceptable. I hereby advise you to use these concrete pillars, I may even sell... My party produces more sensitization videos than the sitting government and other opposition parties, so imagine how I may regulate if you elect me. Do these metal workers give warranty and for how long? If one thousand Gambians or xyz learn with actions, then changing route may impress even the God of inspiration as an accepter and spreader of good. If you are an atheist, such videos will trigger a positive race with the government and other opposition parties. Impacting the lives of people in meaningful ways, saving them money through advice+, and all before God empowers you as an executive.

Refuting Excuses: While talking to a prominent Gambian on a completely different matter, he insisted that governments do not have the responsibility to advise people on essential matters, that it is the job of the press. Whereas I agree the primary responsibility of information sharing is on the press, but I strongly believe that governments and even opposition leaders share the secondary responsibility of information sharing. For Muslims, just look at ch.103 as a checklist, then you will agree. Sometimes the primary responsibility may actually be on the government or other politicians. No government is too busy to help sensitize the public on even personal matters. Yes, we do not want the government to go beyond advice on personal matters, but we want governments to advise+ on all sins between creatures, regulate businesses and public places, help the under-thinking to think, etc. For every hour or million governments spend on sincere good advice, they will save themselves at least two hours and/or two millions. Even the questionable u.s tries to advise people on even daily intake of food like magnesium, calcium, etc. The u.s and general west may over regulate, demanding permits for such erections, but African governments under regulate and under advice. We have a ministry of information in the Gambia and in how many African countries, but their job seems to be heaping praise on our questionable leaders rather than spreading information the people may need? Forwarding excuses like 'government cannot do everything' is the vague excuse to say governments should not or cannot advise even where the hospital bills or need to buy new stands may contribute to more corruption or xyz is sad. If I vividly give a verifiable example of such stands in a school against our children, then journalists must list how many government facilities they saw such stands. Then someone may claim 'governments don't have the responsibility to think for even themselves and cannot respect thinkers, just waste tax dollars and offer empathy where disasters were/are avoidable? Tell me what percentage of my points you agree with before forwarding excuses on what you disagree with. After admissions, note when the metal stands must be replaced and that all new stands will be concrete pillars in government and public places.

In my other writings, I mentioned how opposition leaders should sponsor private laws they deem important. In this particular example, you may have limited regulations, especially in public places. I will not impose concrete as mandatory. I will advise, then regulate: Anyone who uses metal stands or xyz must submit an installation date with videos, and you must change it after 5, 10, or 15 years. Like food may have expiration dates, the type of material you use in buildings will determine inspection or destruction dates. We cannot wait until it falls on a child and we blame God or who? We must think or at least humbly learn from thinkers. I want to see minimal people in hospitals, or I could have advised only my family or country. I want to inspire journalists and other caring folks. A media house or even an influencer who makes amazing presentations on such will force the hand of governments or at least those willing to learn. No government would want to be embarrassed with countless videos, 'we told you so on xyz date, now here is the accident...' It may be true that in five years time when these stands may start to fall in droves, the sitting leaders will likely be gone. The shame or potential lawsuits are real.

Cell Phone Metal Towers: I am not sure if they are treated or untreated metals. Governments should investigate and advise them. Treated metals are far beyond painting. I once worked for a company in Canada that treats different metals and parts for aircrafts, weapons, etc. The treatment can include dipping them in three to ten different types of chemicals to resist many different things. You may need far more than annual or which periodic repainting? You can also demand special insurance from such companies if it ever falls on the citizens who may be too poor to take-on these bigger companies. Should similar fines or xyz be mandated if your private metal water tank falls on others?

The primary reason for the article is the water tanks and you do not need my type of experience to understand the metals are certainly not treated to resist rain and corrosion for even ten or twenty years. So we cannot totally deny you using them, but we can demand timely taking down before it hurts others. In this particular example, I am fairly certain that over 90% of the populace will switch if the right sensitization takes place. Can Gambian journalists or your respective countries visit schools and government places that may have such unfit stands. Every five to ten years, our tax dollars going to questionable welders is not smart. You can be indifferent to your neighbours, but I remind you that life demands we care and be thankful to the Lord of knowledge and guidance. May God protect us more than we try to protect others, guide, and bless us beyond our imaginations. May God bless Showlove Trinity: let's learn, let's work, let's have fun.

By Jarga Kebba Gigo
An Activist and Transformer
Author of Juts Quhr-aahn