City to construct $50m water plant

Masvingo Bureau
Masvingo City Council plans to construct a $50 million water treatment plant over the next four years to bring a lasting solution to recurrent water problems that have been blighting the country’s oldest town.

The city is grappling with severe water shortages blamed on surging demand, with the existing treatment infrastructure managing a peak supply of 30 megalitres per day against a demand of 48 megalitres.

Council hopes the planned expansion of treatment capacity under phase two of its water augmentation project will also see expansion of pumping, conveyancing and storage capacity.

Finance and procurement chair Councillor Babylon Beta recently said they had resolved to construct a new water treatment plant to meet the needs of the growing population.

“Council noted that the plant (water treatment) constructed under phase one of the water augmentation project cannot meet water needs for the city whose population is growing.

“‘We have therefore budgeted $50 million for the construction of a duplicate water treatment plant whose funding will be spread over the next four years. Council envisages that the construction of the new water plant will address current water woes.”

Cllr Beta said financial feasibility study for the project being done by the city’s consultants was nearing completion.

Once completed, the project is expected to improve water supply in the country’s oldest town.

The city has been battling water problems caused by breakdown of key components at the Bushmead Waterworks plant on the shores of Lake Mutirikwi.

Mayor Advocate Collen Maboke recently said the problem at Bushmead was resolved after council secured hard currency to import the required spares from South Africa. He hinted that the city was heading for another dry week owing to maintenance work that will be undertaken at the waterworks plant next week.

Masvingo’s population has grown phenomenally over the past decade after the opening of a new suburb at Victoria Ranch, now commonly known as the “Second Masvingo”.