adminPamela Shumba Senior Reporter
BULAWAYO residents could heave a sigh of relief as the city’s supply dams now hold 76 percent of their combined capacity up from 56 percent recorded last week as heavy rains continue throughout the country.Yesterday’s council report indicated that Insiza and Mtshabezi dams were already 100 percent full while Umzingwane was 68,7 percent full and has since been re-commissioned.
Lower Ncema stood at 67,7 percent with Upper Ncema at 67,4 percent while Inyankuni was at 21,2 percent. Bulawayo City Council spokesperson Bongiwe Ngwenya said the city’s supply dams had between last week and this week recorded very significant inflows hence the city’s major supply dam, Insiza is 100 percent full.
She said the city’s six supply dams had so far gained a combined 1,69 million cubic metres thereby raising the volume of water to 3,16 million cubic metres compared to their combined capacity of 4,14 million cubic metres.
Last week the city council lifted water shedding which saw suburbs going for days without water as the council battled to conserve the fast dwindling water supplies. The water shedding was introduced in 2012 and at its peak, suburbs were supplied with water for just three days a week.
The city is however still under water rationing and therefore residents that exceed their monthly allocation are penalised heavily.
The daily ration for individually metered houses in the Eastern suburbs stands at 350 litres per day, those in the Western suburbs should use an average of 300 litres while cottages should not exceed 200 litres per day.
Council has warned residents against using domestic water for construction or moulding bricks and offenders risk being fined $1,000
Online Reporter