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Nesia Mhaka Herald Reporter
The Harare City Council is set to introduce water rationing, which will result in some suburbs getting supplies three days a week, following this season’s low rainfall.
There will be a complete shutdown of the Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant today to allow engineers to adjust the water abstraction periscopes on the lake.
Water levels have gone down by three metres while the depth of the lake has been reduced by about eight metres due to siltation.
This was revealed by Harare town clerk Engineer Hosea Chisango during a tour of Lake Chivero on Wednesday.
He said the scheduled water rationing to be introduced in two weeks would ensure that all consumers access water.
“This year there are predictions of low rainfall, this has compelled the city council to introduce water rationing system very soon to ensure residents get water throughout the season,” he said.
“This weekend we are going to have a cleaning of the water treatment plant to remove the algae which is in the plant so that residents will get clean water. This will cause a water supply cut the whole weekend.”
In parts of Kuwadzana, Budiriro, Glen View, Mufakose, Kambuzuma and other western suburbs, residents only receive water at night while Mabvuku, Tafara, Ruwa, Greendale and other eastern parts of Harare have had perennial water challenges.
“The full schedule of water level will be released after the assessment that is going to take place this coming weekend. Rationing will continue until the water level rises as the rainy season progresses,” said Eng Chisango.
“We have gone back to those days when some areas only received water during the night while others will have days when they will not get any water.”
Mbare hostels are the worst affected as they use communal toilets that double up as bathrooms.
There has been no water in most of the hostels for the past four days, posing a health scare.
Online Reporter