admin
Temba Dube Senior Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council has lifted water shedding with immediate effect following significant inflows into the city’s six supply dams.
According to statistics availed by the local authority yesterday, inflows equal to about 10 percent of the dams’ combined carrying capacity of about 414 million cubic metres flowed into the dams in six days beginning Tuesday, due to heavy rains that are falling in most parts of the country.
This is the first time in years that the dams have recorded more than one percent inflows in a rainy season.
Confirming the development, Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo said: “A dramatic increase in the water levels in the dams in the past week has made it possible for council to do away with water shedding. With the Meteorological Services Department forecasting more heavy rains, we hope that the situation will continue to improve.”
He said the future water supplies committee would sit in the council chambers to formalise the issue today.
“Actually, today was supposed to be a water shedding day for some parts of the city. However, there was no shedding. After tomorrow we will make a formal announcement, otherwise water shedding is now a thing of the past,” said Clr Moyo.
He, however, urged residents to continue with their culture of conserving water, saying: “Bulawayo is still a water shortage area, so we need to continue conserving the water that we get to avoid a similar situation in the near future.”
At the peak of water shortages, council had enforced a four day water shedding regime, sparking an outcry from residents.
Of late the water shedding regime had been reduced to 24 hours since end December, last year.
According to the statistics, as of yesterday, the six supply dams-Insiza, Inyankuni, Mtshabezi, Upper Ncema, Lower Ncema and Umzingwane were 56,94 percent full.
Before the onset of the rainy season on November 21, they held 41,18 percent of their capacity.
On Tuesday, the figure was 46,15 percent while on Friday it was 52,34.
When council commenced shedding on July 27 2012, the dams were 43,1 percent full.
The statistics show that the bulk of the city’s water is still held in the largest supply dam, Insiza.
Last year in February, the situation was so bad that council adopted a four day weekly water shedding schedule for all suburbs.
The city is under a permanent water rationing regime, with punitive fines for residents who exceed their quota. The daily ration for individually metered houses in the eastern suburbs stands at 350 litres per day, those in the western suburbs are discouraged from using more than 300 litres, while cottages should not exceed 200 litres everyday.
In 2010, council announced that people caught using domestic water for construction would be fined $1,000 up from $30 and those who use water for brick moulding would also pay $1, 000.
The following year, the fines for people found using hosepipes were raised to $1,500 from $200.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter