Municipal Correspondent
HELCRAW Water in partnership with Chinhoyi Municipality has begun replacing ageing asbestos water pipes with modern PVC lines in a major infrastructure intervention expected to reduce water losses and improve the efficiency of treated water distribution.
The municipality had been losing more than 52 percent of its treated water through the distribution network, placing pressure on its operations and finances.
The rehabilitation is being undertaken in partnership with Helcraw Water, which has expanded its municipal water infrastructure interventions beyond Harare to other local authorities.
Helcraw Water public relations officer Ms Melisa Chatikobo said the company was working with municipalities to address their specific water infrastructure challenges and improve the efficiency of the entire water supply chain.
“Our work with municipalities is about more than infrastructure replacement. It is about strengthening the entire water value chain so that treated water reaches residents efficiently and reliably,” she said.
Ms Chatikobo said the company’s experience through the Harare Water Project had given it valuable expertise in dealing with complex municipal water systems, which it was now applying in other towns.
“We are now taking that expertise to other towns, while recognising that every municipality has different infrastructure, operational and investment needs,” she said.
She said sustainable improvements in water delivery required close collaboration between local authorities and technical partners.
“We believe sustainable water solutions are achieved through strong partnerships with local authorities. Our role is to bring the technical expertise, infrastructure solutions and project experience that can help municipalities improve the performance of their water systems,” she said.
Municipality of Chinhoyi public relations manager Mr Tichaona Mlauzi said the replacement of the ageing asbestos network would help address leakages caused by defects in the old pipes.
“The replacement of the aged asbestos pipe network by PVC pipes is a welcome development. It will curb leakages associated with latent defects, resulting in the retention of treated water as it is transported through the pipes,” he said.
Mr Mlauzi said the municipality had previously been losing more than half of its treated water before it reached consumers, increasing the council’s operational and financial burden.
“Over 52 percent of treated water was being lost. This non-revenue water has cost the council since water is passed on to the consumer on a cost build-up,” he said.
He said the partnership with Helcraw would help revitalise the distribution network and improve water supplies to residents.
“As a local authority, we welcome this partnership as it would ensure improved water supply as the pipe network is revitalised,” he said.
The Chinhoyi intervention builds on Helcraw Water’s work with the City of Harare, where it has been involved in smart water metering, distribution network rehabilitation and interventions at Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Works.
The company said its work with other municipalities would be tailored to the infrastructure, operational and investment needs of each local authority.
