Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, [email protected]
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has received a Letter of Intent (LOI) from a company proposing to extract water by drilling deep underground wells, which it claims do not run dry — even under extreme drought conditions. If adopted, the proposal could provide a long-term solution to the city’s persistent water crisis, which has seen residents go for up to five days without running water.
Bulawayo has been under continuous water shedding for several years due to severe water shortages. Residents endure a 130-hour water shedding schedule, meaning they have access to water for less than two days each week.
Primary Water, a company specialising in the extraction of groundwater from deep underground sources, has submitted a proposal to drill wells up to 400 metres deep. According to the latest council report, the foreign firm boasts over 20 years of experience.
“The Director of Water and Sanitation reported that council received a Letter of Intent from Primary Water, a company that has successfully found water in the Kalahari Desert, Great Namib Desert, and other seemingly impossible locations, with a 100 percent success rate over the past two decades. The water source, once drilled, does not rely on rainfall or weather conditions, offering Bulawayo reliable water security regardless of climate,” reads the report.
The cost of water extraction ranges from €450 000 (approximately US$610 000) for a source with a daily capacity of 250 cubic metres — enough to serve around 2 500 people — to €1 500 000 (approximately US$2 million) for a source with a daily capacity of 1 000 cubic metres, serving up to 10 000 people.
Council noted that the quoted prices include all operational work, although costs may vary depending on geological conditions.
“The estimated project duration is between 30 to 60 days. The system uses advanced underground scanning technology to locate water-bearing cracks in deep rock formations. Drilling is carried out using compressed air to depths of between 200 and 400 metres,” said the council.
Should the proposal be accepted, the local authority is expected to adopt a staged financing model, beginning with a preparation fee of US$500 000, followed by the final payment upon successful water delivery.
Council has indicated plans to approach international financiers and donor organisations to fund the project. The Department of Water and Sanitation will also seek guidance from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa), the custodians of groundwater, before reviewing the LOI from Primary Water.
As a medium-term solution, the construction of the Bopoma Glassblock Dam in Matabeleland South Province has also been proposed. Estimated to cost US$100 million, the dam will be developed through a public-private partnership (PPP).
The dam has become council’s top priority for securing a reliable water supply for Bulawayo in the coming years. Once completed, it will hold up to 130 million cubic metres of water and is strategically located at the intersection of Gwanda, Umzingwane and Filabusi districts.
Construction is expected to take two years. Although plans for the dam date back to 1988, progress was delayed due to funding and logistical challenges. The Government is now pushing for its implementation as part of broader efforts to alleviate Bulawayo’s water shortages.
A 32-kilometre pipeline will connect the dam to the Ncema Dam pump station, facilitating water delivery to the city.
