Victoria Falls residents call for permanent solution to water challenges

VICTORIA Falls residents have implored the local authority to speed up the construction of additional reservoirs to permanently address water shortages in the resort city, especially in Mkhosana suburb.

The construction of reservoirs began in Mkhosana suburb a few months ago after the council set aside US$4 million for the project.

The resort city’s residents especially in Mkhosana suburb endure endless water cuts because of inadequate reservoirs.

While the city pumps adequate water from the abstraction point on the Zambezi River, the biggest challenge is distribution of the precious liquid due to lack of reservoirs especially in high-lying areas like Mkhosana.

When there is a power cut, water supplies to Mkhosana are immediately cut off. This, coupled with ageing pumping equipment, has been causing perennial water supply challenges to residents of Victoria Falls, which was conferred city status in 2019.
Some sections like BD46 have been having water supply challenges for two decades.

The local authority requires close to US$15 million for the water and sanitation project, which will result in an overhaul of the whole water and sewer reticulation system. The council has been courting investors without success.

The local authority recently disposed of some land to raise money for water projects after resolving to go it alone using its own resources.

The project includes the upgrading of Aerodrome pump station and pumping lines, construction of a new five mega litres ground tank and a 0,75 mega litres elevated tank to allow for pumping by gravity and strengthening of weak zones.

After the groundbreaking six months ago there has been a lot of progress. The digging of trenches and laying pipes to connect the reservoirs to the river has started.

Residents said while they welcome the implementation of the project to improve water supply, they are concerned about workmanship of the council workers who are not properly reclaiming sections where they dig across the roads.

In an interview, Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association chair Mr Kelvin Moyo said residents were happy with progress made so far although they are concerned about safety as a result of poorly reclaimed road sections where pipes cross streets.

“At least there is progress and we hope they finish on time. According to the plan they should finish next year, which is only next week and we hope they stick to the timeliness,” he said.

Mr Moyo said for the past week the water situation has been improved. Residents are hopeful the completion of the reservoirs would permanently solve the water situation.