Water levels in major dams decline 7,8pc

Mandaza Chikarango-Herald Correspondent

WATER levels in the country’s major dams continue to decline due to intensified irrigation, drawdowns by local authorities and rising temperatures, Zinwa corporate communications and marketing manager Marjorie Munyonga reports. 

But after two reasonable seasons, at least as far as total rainfall if not the distribution, the dams still store a lot of water. 

In an interview, Mrs Munyonga said as of Monday, the national dam level average stood at 84,7 percent marking a 7,83 percent decline since the end of April .

Regardless of the decline, most dams across the country still hold sufficient water volumes to meet the current irrigation requirements as well the early summer cropping irrigation needs. Most dams supplying water for domestic needs to major cities and towns hold enough water, with basically just Bulawayo perennially short of raw water until the pipeline starts delivering water from Gwai-Shangani at the end of next year. 

Mrs Munjonga urged all raw water users drawing water from Zinwa-managed dams to regularise their water use in terms of a water abstraction agreement as required by the law. 

Water abstraction agreements allow Zinwa to efficiently and sustainably allocate the available water among the competing needs of different users. 

“All irrigating farmers and other raw water users who intend to draw water from Zinwa-managed dams are advised to start lodging their applications with their service centres and catchments for water reservations ahead of the commencement of the winter cropping season. 

“These applications will lead to the signing of water abstraction agreements between Zinwa and the water users and help Zinwa to efficiently plan and allocate the limited water resources available,” she said.

During the last farming season rainfall was erratic and unreliable for dryland farming, making supplementary irrigation necessary for successful agriculture but the total rainfall, which came in bursts, was reasonable so dams held enough water for this irrigation. 

Irrigation acts as a mitigating measure against droughts and mid-season dry spells, which enables irrigators to grow crops throughout the year and intensify production. 

The Government’s objective for irrigation development is to guarantee food security through increased crop production.