admin
Victor Maphosa
Mashonaland East Bureau
Marondera Municipality is buying a 500kVA generator for its water treatment plant to continue operating through power cuts and intends to add a one megawatt solar station to the plant.
This is part of the town’s short to medium-term strategy to provide quality service.
In the long-term, the town is coming up with a plan to secure partnerships with local and international investors.
The collaborative approach aims to transform the town’s infrastructure, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services.
In an interview on Wednesday, the municipality’s acting director of works, Engineer Itayi Mashonganyika said the authority was committed to providing sustainable services to the people.
“We want to procure a 500kVA generator as well as the construction of a 500m power supply line to the quarry pond adjacent to the existing water plant in Marondera.
“We propose to pump raw water to the quarry pond, which will become our raw water reservoir.
“When power is unavailable from the grid, we will then pump the raw water from our quarry reservoir to the plant, treat it as usual and then pump it to the residents using power from the generator.
“This is the optimum solution available to ensure there is continuous water supply to residents,” Eng Mashonganyika said.
Speaking on the possibilities of partnering with potential investors to address water challenges in Marondera, Eng Mashonganyika said already, plans are at an advanced stage to rope in the private sector and potential investors in WASH services.
“Our current daily demand for potable water is approaching 30 megalitres a day against a treatment capacity of 13,5 megalitres.
“Our major challenge remains the funding for augmentation of the existing plant, coupled with intermittent power supplies.
“With the support of the central Government, in the formulation of ‘Cities of the Future’, an integrated urban water management master-plan was formulated in 2021 for the Municipality of Marondera, with a 20-year horizon.
“Using this strategic document we are looking for potential partners to augment the plant capacity to 30 megalitres a day, amongst other possible areas of investment,” he added.
He said the municipality was grateful to the Second Republic through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for the support in exploring investment opportunities.
Online Reporter