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Michell Zvanyanya, Chronicle Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council has embarked on a leak detection exercise in a bid to reduce the water lost through leakages.
The project is part of the council’s Bulawayo Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (BWSSIP) being funded by the African Development Bank.
The exercise which is expected to end in November, will target Pumula East, Luveve, Njube, Old Pumula, Pelandaba and Iminyela suburbs.
In a statement, Bulawayo Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube said the leak detection exercise also seeks to identify and repair damaged water distribution pipes that are contributing to the loss of water.
He said this will improve access to municipal water supply and sanitation service in the city.
“The City of Bulawayo would like to advise members of the public that it will be conducting leak detection activities under the project BWSSIP W01 to isolate areas that are losing water (due to underground leaks and pipe bursts) and to identify problematic water distribution infrastructure (collapsed pipes, pipes prone to burst, low pressure and those with no water supply) that need to be remedied,” said Mr Dube.
“The suburbs to be targeted are Pumula East, Luveve, Njube, Old Pumula, Pelandaba and Iminyela. This is done to ensure that all residents have access to potable water and it will be carried out from September to November 2019.”
Mr Dube advised members of the public that the project will not interrupt the prevailing water supply services.
“Only individuals will be working within the community after midnight and around 0200hrs to 0400hrs when water usage and noise are at their lowest. The leak detection equipment will sense the best results during this period. The workers will be wearing working regalia braded with BCC and UNIK logos with full identification (IDs),” said Mr Dube.
He said the project focuses on areas supplied by the Magwegwe and Criterion Reservoirs.
“The main objective of the water supply component is to ensure improved access to Municipal water supply in the identified project areas by improving the efficiency of distribution networks in areas supplied by the Magwegwe and Criterion Reservoirs and reducing the non-revenue water,” said Mr Dube.
One of the key components of the project is the Mains Upgrading, Mains Renewal, Bulk and Domestic Meter Replacement (BSWWIP W01). The water supply system for the City of Bulawayo is beset with a number of problems that include difficulties to supply potable water to all customers, aging infrastructure, scarcity of water resources, high Non-Revenue Water (NRW), frequent pipe bursts and leaks.
In August last year the BCC under the BSWWIP also implemented a Cowdray Park project to open up sewer trenches to service the area that has gone for years without sewer reticulation.
The project will service 12 119 houses and is expected to be complete by February next year. —@michellzvanyanyan2
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