Chegutu losing half of treated water to leaks

Nokuthula Dube

HALF of Chegutu’s treated water is being lost to leaks in the town’s ageing distribution system, worsening an already severe crisis aggravated by critically low levels at Clifton Dam, the town’s primary source of the commodity, The Sunday Mail has learnt.

The Chegutu Town Council has however started implementing measures to avert the deepening water crisis, including engaging the Government to expedite the long-delayed development of Mhondoro B Dam, which is expected to significantly boost supply.

The local authority is producing 8 megalitres of water per day, only half of the 16 megalitres required daily to meet the town’s growing demand.

Water levels at Clifton Dam have dropped to just 8 percent of its full capacity, raising concerns about the municipality’s ability to sustain supply throughout the year.

In an interview, Chegutu Town Council’s business development and communications officer Mr Lovemore Mutsvangwa confirmed the water challenges facing the town.

“The Municipality of Chegutu, in collaboration with key stakeholders, recently conducted a fact-finding mission to assess the state of the town’s water supply system.

“The mission was aimed at identifying critical challenges and explore sustainable solutions to ensure a reliable water supply for Chegutu’s growing population.

“The tour revealed several pressing issues affecting the municipality’s raw water supply system.”

Mr Mutsvangwa said the levels at Clifton Dam were “critically low” as it is only holding 850 megalitres against a full capacity of 10 309 megalitres.

“At this rate, the available water is insufficient to sustain the municipality throughout the year,” he said.

“With Chegutu’s population and urban growth, the projected water demand in the next 20 years is estimated to reach 40 megalitres per day, representing a 150 percent increase from the current demand of 16 megalitres per day.

“This alarming projection underscores the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades and sustainable water management strategies.

“The Municipality of Chegutu Town Clerk, Mr Jacob Chikuruwo, stated that they have planned projects that will produce over 10 000 houses in 2026. That alone requires an effective water supply.”

He said the water leakages in Chegutu were worrying.

“Approximately 50 percent of treated water is lost due to leaks in the ageing water distribution network.

“This significant loss exacerbates the already critical water shortage, meaning half of the treated water never reaches residents,” he said.

The water challenges, he added, were exacerbated by frequent power outages that disrupt pumping, rapid population growth exceeding infrastructure capacity and geographical constraints requiring costly continuous pumping.

He said stakeholders identified solutions to prevent a catastrophe.

“To address these challenges, stakeholders emphasised the need for immediate and long-term interventions. One of the most critical solutions proposed is the construction of the Mhondoro B Dam, which has been on the cards for some time but has yet to materialise,” he said.

“The dam is expected to significantly boost water supply and provide a sustainable solution to the municipality’s water woes.

“Stakeholders have called for collective action to engage the Government and Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) to fast-track the development of the Mhondoro B Dam. Additionally, there is an urgent need to rehabilitate the ageing water distribution network to reduce losses and increase the water treatment capacity to cater to the growing population and urban expansion.”