Online Reporter
Mkhululi Ncube, Zimpapers Reporter
BULAWAYO residents have been challenged to rethink their stance on the use of recycled water as the city continues to battle the water crisis compounded by aging water infrastructure resulting in the city losing almost half of its treated water.
This was said by Bulawayo mayor, Councillor David Coltart mayor in a speech read on his behalf by ward 25 councillor Aleck Ndlovu during the Matabeleland Water Indaba.
The indaba which is being held at a local hotel is organised by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association and the Public Policy and Research Institute of Zimbabwe.
The indaba brought together various stakeholders from government, institutions of higher learning, councils and civic organisations.
It is being held under the theme: Rethinking Sustainable Water Strategies for Matabeleland.
“In Rethinking Sustainable Water Strategies, we must also consider water recycling. With the city increasingly affected by climate change, feasibility studies are underway to assess the potential use of recycled water for industrial purposes drawing inspiration from cities such as Windhoek, Namibia which has successfully used recycled water for years, and with advancements in technology, perhaps the time has come for Bulawayo to embrace the use of recycled water.” he said.
The mayor said the city needs US$14,5 million to overhaul its water infrastructure which is resulting in 46 percent of treated water going to waste due to aging pipes.
With city dams only filling up during tropical cyclones, the mayor said solutions needed to be found to address the water crisis.
“While we continue to hope for improved inflows, the city also requires significant investment to overhaul its ageing water infrastructure and improving bulk water delivery. Much of our infrastructure has outlived its life span, resulting in the frequent pipe bursts that cause the loss of the very water we are striving to preserve,” he said.
The mayor said council has developed short, medium and long term strategies to address the challenges.
“In the short term, the city requires approximately US$14,5 million to tackle infrastructure problems, this includes renewing water mains across the city, rehabilitating water pumps, replacing over 1 000 non-functional meters and repairing existing infrastructure all aimed at reducing Non Revenue Water which currently stands at 46 percent,” he said.
The mayor said the Water Indaba is an important platform in the quest to find solutions to the water challenges affecting not just the City of Bulawayo but the region as a whole.
He urged residents to pray for a successful rainfall season in the 2026-2027 rainfall season.
