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He said the new schedule covered weekends, thereby making it difficult for residents who spend the week at work, to do their laundry.
Ms Abigail Giyani (25), of Emganwini said a disease outbreak was imminent in the city.
“We cannot survive with water running from the taps for only three days in a week. I have young twins and already, I have had to rush one of them to hospital because of diarrhoea. It is difficult to use the toilet because there is no water for flushing. I think the whole city is being exposed to the danger of an outbreak of water-borne diseases,” said Ms Giyani.
She said most of the times, the water that came out of taps after restoration of supplies was dirty and unsafe for drinking.
Ms Giyani said council should concentrate on the resuscitation of boreholes at Nyamandlovu Aquifer as an emergency solution.
Another Emganwini resident, Ms Violet Ntaba, said council should do away with water-shedding and let residents regulate their own water usage.
“We actually use more water when there is shedding so I think it will not help the city to prolong supplies until the next rainy season. Whenever water comes, we water our gardens thoroughly because we would not be sure when we would have it again. Council should just let residents limit themselves,” said Ms Ntaba.
A couple, Mr Richard Ndlovu (66) and Mrs Siphiwe Ndlovu (60) of Queens Park East, said it was unacceptable for an urban area to have water for only three days in a week.
“The Mtshabezi project should have been completed long ago. The city fathers are failing to plan ahead. Zinwa should also be removing silt from the decommissioned dams before the rains start, to increase their holding capacity. It all comes down to failure to plan,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Added Mrs Ndlovu: “Council does not consult residents when the water-shedding is being drawn up. We only read about it in the newspaper. I think residents’ input is important because the matter affects everyone in the city.”
Contacted for comment, Bulawayo’s senior public relations officer Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said shedding was necessary as most parts of the city would go without water for months if it was not implemented.
“Water from the dams is ultimately pumped to reservoirs that supply sections of the city. Now that there is little raw water coming from the dams, the reservoirs reach critical levels, beyond which water cannot be supplied to residents faster. We have to shut down the system to replenish them,” said Mrs Mpofu.
She said if usage was not restricted, even if there was water in the reservoirs, the pressure would be so low that residents at high places likeHarrisvale, Entumbane and parts of Magwegwe would be permanently deprived of the precious liquid.
Mrs Mpofu urged residents to start water harvesting to ensure they use less treated water.
“Now that we are having rain in some parts of the city, residents are encouraged to capture run-off from roofs and other places for use in cleaning and flushing toilets,” she said.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu