Sidumisile Mabena
Peter Matika, [email protected]
DESPITE improved dam levels following a favorable rainy season, Bulawayo residents may have to brace for continued water shedding as ageing infrastructure, broken pumps and inadequate funding continue to cripple the city’s water delivery system.
According to the latest council, although the city’s supply dams were sitting at 70,36 percent capacity by the end of March, authorities admitted that operational challenges were preventing the city from supplying water consistently to residents.
During a recent full council meeting, Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart said residents expected council to immediately ease water shedding because of the improved inflows into supply dams but warned that the situation on the ground remained dire.
The Mayor said while Mtshabezi Dam was now spilling, the city was failing to draw enough water because of pipeline limitations.
“Only nine megaliters’ are being pumped into the city because of the pipe size. The Water Technical Committee recommended duplication of the pipeline and installation of a solar system to stabilise pumping operations,” he said.
Council minutes further reveal that the city requires at least US$15 million to urgently refurbish critical infrastructure, including the ageing Tuli Pump Station, which officials say has outlived its lifespan.
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi
Online Reporter