Aging infrastructure costs council

As of November last year, the city recorded over 7 000 water leakages compared to 5 623 in 2010 and 3 426 in 2009.
This means on average the city recorded 589 leakages per month in 2011, 468 in 2010 and 285 in 2009.
A total of 862 pipe bursts were also reported in 2011 compared to 565 in 2010 and 495 in 2009.
This translates to an average of 75 pipe bursts per month in 2011, 47 in 2010 and 41 in 2009.
The development comes amid calls for significant investment to replace the dilapidated water infrastructure, which has been blamed for the loss of millions of cubic metres of treated water.
The city council collects about $4,5 million of its revenue from water levies a month.
Last year in October the local authority revealed that it was losing 40 percent of its treated water through leakages and burst pipes.
Bulawayo residents have also voiced concern over the issue and complained that council was making them pay for water they did not use.
The council’s Director of Engineering Services, Engineer Simela Dube, has said most of the leakages and pipe bursts were a result of the city’s aging infrastructure.
He said council was working on repairs despite a backlog of 20 out of the 529 leakages that were repaired by the end of November last year.
“The leaks occurred mainly on service lines. However, there is a marked increase in leaks repaired since Janaury 2009. This is due to the aging of the city’s water reticulation pipes,” said Eng Dube.
He said the marked increase in pipe bursts in year 2011 was due to frequent malfunctioning of the pressure reducing valves in Nketa, Nkulumane, Suburbs and Richmond.
Eng Dube said his department had come up with a programme to attend to leaks.
He said to date 72 out of 74 areas identified have been attended to.
Eng Dube also acknowledged that some areas such as Pumula South, were not receiving adequate water service due to low-pressure problems.
“The ultimate solution to the Pumula South area is to put a reservoir or a pump booster station in the area.” he said.