Bulawayo water supply dams 49% full

Bulawayo's six water supply dams are 49,06 % full as rains continue to pound the catchment areas and the city.

The figures are as of today (Tuesday).

According to an update from the local authority, Insiza Mayfair has 70,43% capacity, Inyankuni (20%), Lower Ncema (28%), Umzingwane (30%), Upper Ncema (43%) and Mtshabezi is at  50,94 %.

 Significant rains have been received in recent days, easing the water crisis burden.

 Late last year, the local authority was forced to introduce stringent water rationing regime for the city as the holding capacity had dwindled to alarming levels.

 However, water rationing was suspended  in the first week of  January due to high rainfall.

In the latest minutes, the local authority — which had given residents a reprieve during the festive season — said it had decided to totally lift water shedding as it continues to observe the situation and come up with more innovative means to conserve water.

According to a report by council's department of engineering services, it was noted that water shedding was largely ineffective as the city's water distribution system is old and faced major breakdowns due to burst pipes because of air accumulating in the system during shedding periods