The African Development Bank and the OPEC Fund for International Development are providing Sierra Leone $62 million for the reconstruction of three water stations, the head of the west African state's water company said on Tuesday.

"The African Development Bank (ADB) has provided 42 million US dollars while the OPEC Fund has given 20 million US dollars to the project," Victor Hastings-Spaine, the acting director-general of the Sierra Leone Water Company (Salwaco), told AFP.

Part of the funds is a loan and part a grant, he added.

The project aims to put in place within three years sustainable water systems in the southern city of Bo, Kenema in the east and Makeni in the north.

"The benefit to all three cities will be proper water supply and improved sanitation activities in schools, colleges, markets and lorry parks and wouild mean having he best water system in the country," added Hastings-Spaine.

According to Sierra Leonean government data only 15 to 20 percent of residents in provincial cities have access to clean water and the rest rely on unprotected wells and polluted streams.