adminwithout any approval from the water authority – Zinwa.
The residents of Mabvuku, Tafara, Hatcliffe, Epworth and Chitungwiza and most of the affluent northern suburbs have drilled or sunk thousands of boreholes and deep wells in the last decade. Most of these were a response to the erratic water supplies to residents by the local authorities. However, it is important to highlight that the activity is no less legal because of the circumstances.
The world over water scientists agree fresh water is increasingly becoming a scarce resource. The situation is further compounded by climate change. Temperatures are generally becoming hotter raising the sea levels as glaciers melt while smaller rivers and dams are fast shrinking or disappearing. To that end, governments and water authorities across the globe are gazetting legislation to control and regulate water demand, supply, development and management of this finite resource.
Haphazard and unplanned development of deep wells and boreholes affect water cycles and availability to people living downstream or low lying areas. Communities farther away from water sources would invariably experience water shortages in addition to short-circuiting the natural water cycle system.
l Among Zinwa’s responsibilities are water resources planning, management and development;
l Hydrology and hydrogeology; and
l Dam safety and borehole drilling.
These functions ultimately aim at helping the authority in exploiting, conserving and managing the water resources of Zimbabwe. This ensures the securing of equitable accessibility and efficient allocation, distribution, use and development of water resources.
It is in line with fulfilling these broad mandates that the Government in its wisdom amended the Water Act to reflect a new dispensation in water use. The law changed what was termed water rights to water permits to realise its functions of equitable distribution.
In the past, citizens who developed dams or boreholes had exclusive rights to use that water. However, the realisation that water was a finite resource and the poor had a right to it just as much as the rich, the law introduced water permits. The permits allow one individual to draw water enough for their activities and leaving the rest for others to exploit too.
It is within that framework of equitable access and distribution of the scarce resource that ground water should also be regulated, planned and its exploitation managed professionally.
Allowing any haphazard drilling of wells and boreholes distorts the hydrology of any area and affects other consumers if not managed well. To that end, all people who seek to drill boreholes should apply for an authority to drill from Zimwa before commencing their operations.
For the avoidance of doubt, all boreholes should be registered with Zinwa and requisite levies paid annually to the authority and the respective sub-catchment councils. That is what the law says and that should be observed.
Zinwa has a fully equipped Ground Water Division responsible for managing, exploiting and drilling of boreholes. The unit has state-of-the-art technology in identifying ground water sources, advise on its use and handle the drilling professionally. The division’s expertise and equipment are also available for hire by private individuals and organisations in addition to their state use.
The Ground Water Division has drilled thousands of private and public boreholes in the last decade across Zimbabwe. The division is proud of its workmanship and the resultant high water yielding and uncontaminated water boreholes it has drilled over the years.
Groundwater remains one of the most dependable fresh water sources. However, it also remains vulnerable to contamination or pollution depending on the industrial/agricultural activities carried out in the vicinity of the borehole site. Therefore, it remains important that the siting and drilling of boreholes be done after water quality tests have been conducted professionally at the site.
Let us all follow the law and ensure that we use the finite resources in a sustainable manner. Groundwater remains one of the best fresh water sources and hence we should guard against polluting it or abusing it.
l We welcome enquiries and suggestions. Please channel them to Zinwa PR Department, 12th Floor, Old Mutual Centre, corner Third Street and Jason Moyo Avenue, Harare. Email: [email protected]. Phone (04) 797 604/5 ; 797 610-3.
Online Reporter