Victoria Falls US$4m reservoir project 65pc complete

THE Victoria Falls City Council’s water reservoir project, worth US$4 million, is now over 65 percent complete, with the council expected to finish the entire scheme by June this year.

The project was launched in June last year as part of a grander US$18m Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) undertaking developed to permanently end water problems in the resort city.

It is aimed at improving the standard of living for residents by supplying reliable clean and safe water for longer periods and increasing water pressure levels.

Victoria Falls Town Clerk, Mr Ronnie Dube, said it would be ready by June 30.

“It is not the reservoir that people should look at, the project is massive. We have done 11km out of 13km of pipework as we are upgrading the pump station to put in a new one and deal with the issue of water pressure.

“The final figure is US$4,5 million, which we raised on our own and we are confident we will complete the project,” he said.

On site, there is massive construction taking place with structures nearing completion. The project is expected to improve water supplies in line with aspirations of the Second Republic implemented through the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) towards Vision 2030.

According to the city engineer, Mrs Sherinah Sibanda, the scope of the project includes upgrading of Aerodrome pump station and pumping lines, construction of a new five mega litres ground tank and 0,75 mega litres elevated tank to allow for pumping by gravity and strengthening of weak zones characterised by construction of 13km of new pipelines.

Over 40 percent of properties in Mkhosana and other high lying areas are not getting water consistently.

The completion of the project will result in over 98 percent of residents getting reliable water supply.

Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Richard Moyo, praised the scheme and said it was a demonstration of several Governmental efforts to meet Zimbabweans’ fundamental human right to clean water and improve their livelihoods by 2030.

The rapid growth of the city in terms of properties, hotels and population has put pressure on water supply, sewerage services, solid waste, roads and drainage.

This has also caused limited pumping of water, under-performance of water treatment plants due to aging, water leakage, and low pumping capacity, which results in erratic pumping and distribution.

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

A Wash masterplan was done in 2016 and recommended the need for storage facilities for Mkhosana and new properties as the city presently pumps directly to consumers. ICP Integrated Construction was contracted to build a five-mega litre ground reservoir, 0,75 mega litre elevated storage tank and associated works in Mkhosana suburb near Moringa Shopping Centre.

The project is funded partly through council funds from sale of stands, including part of the $120 million devolution funds received from the Government last year.