Average national dam level drops to 76.1 percent

BY Wednesday, Zimbabwe’s major dams held 76,1 percent of their total capacity compared to 80 percent during the same week last year, the Zimbabwe Water Authority (Zinwa) reports.

ZINWA spokesperson Majorie Munyonga said most of the country’s cities, towns, growth points and rural service centres remained secure for raw water regardless of the decline in the dam levels countrywide, with dams supplying raw water to 46,8 percent of these places satisfying the 21-month rule and levels expected to rise when the rains started.

The 21-month rule is that there was enough water in the dams to last at current demand for 21 months even if no more rain fell.

“As at November 23, dams supplying water to 40.4 percent of the major towns, cities, small towns, growth points and rural service centres held sufficient water to take the places for periods ranging from 12 months to 20.9 months at current demand.

“Only 12.8 percent of the towns, cities, growth points and rural service centres have raw water sources holding water that is enough for less than 12 months,” she said.

The towns, cities, growth points and rural service centres whose raw water sources satisfy the 21-month rule include Harare, Gweru, Kadoma, Plumtree, Marondera, Bindura, Shamva, Glendale, Concession, Rushinga, Nzvimbo, Rusape, Mutawatawa, Murambinda, Inyati Centre, Insukamini, Buhera and Mashava.

Ms Munyonga said the towns, growth points and rural service centres are in the moderate category with their water supply dams holding sufficient quantities to last periods between 12 and 20,9 months.

These centres include Sadza, Wedza, Inyathi Mine, Mutare, Bulawayo, Gwanda, Chipinge, Shurugwi, Murehwa, Kwekwe and Redcliff.

Centres that are no longer water secure with less than 12 months’ supply include Chivhu, Mvurwi, Mt Darwin, Chegutu and Karoi.

Zinwa would closely monitor the demand patterns in these areas and where necessary make interventions such as drilling boreholes.

“The authority will also keep monitoring areas such as Gokwe Centre, Tsholotsho, Chivi, Nembudziya, Birchenough Bridge, Dete, Madziva Centre and Dotito that are supplied using ground water or sand abstraction.

“The authority also appeals to water users across the board to use the available water sparingly,” she said. — New Ziana.