President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has signed Executive Order No. 165, renewing the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation’s exemption from customs duties on critical operational equipment and supplies, in a move aimed at expanding access to clean water and improving sanitation nationwide.
The order, issued May 22, 2026, restores exemptions that lapsed on March 17, 2026 under Executive Order No. 146. It covers essential imports including diesel fuel, water treatment chemicals, pumps, laboratory equipment, heavy-duty vehicles, and generators used by LWSC for official operations across Liberia.
“Access to safe drinking water and effective sewerage is not a luxury. It is a public health necessity and a pillar of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development,” President Boakai stated. “We cannot afford disruption in water supply or unchecked sewerage overflow in our communities.”
The exemption is intended to lower operational costs for LWSC, prevent tariff hikes for consumers, and ensure uninterrupted service delivery in Monrovia and surrounding areas. It also supports the government’s broader goal of reducing disease outbreaks linked to poor water and sanitation infrastructure.
Under the order, the listed items are exempt from customs duties when imported by LWSC for official use. The directive takes immediate effect and will remain in force until modified or revoked by a subsequent executive order.
Key Items Exempted Include, diesel fuel for operations and production, water treatment chemicals and chlorinators, low and high lift pumps for treatment plants, laboratory apparatus for water facilities, heavy-duty equipment including water and sewer trucks, leaked detectors, and pressure cleaners, flow and water meters, vehicles, and generators.
