News / Local
Bulawayo water shedding schedule to stay
16 Jan 2013 at 22:44hrs | Views
BULAWAYO's supply dams have recorded only one and a half percent inflows since the onset of the rainy season.
In an interview yesterday, council's senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said the water shedding schedule would remain unchanged due to the development.
The city is on a four day weekly water shedding schedule, in all suburbs, in a bid to conserve the fast dwindling supplies.
"As of today, the city's supply dams hold a combined total of 139,6 million cubic metres, which is 38,5 percent of their capacity, up from the worst case of 134,1 million cubic metres, representing 37 percent, on 29 December last year. It should be noted that despite the inflows that have been received in the dams, the situation still remains technically the same," said Mrs Mpofu.
She said although the much anticipated water from Mtshabezi Dam had reached the city, the dam was yet to supply its full potential of about 17 000 cubic metres a day.
"The Mtshabezi pipeline started delivering water on Friday. On average, 3 312 cubic metres a day are being received, against a potential of about 17 200 cubic metres day. We note that Mtshabezi is still on a testing phase," said Mrs Mpofu.
She said if the rains continue, it might translate to good news, as water is likely to flow into the supply dams at a faster rate because the ground was now saturated.
"At the onset of the rains, the ground would be dry and it absorbs most of the water that falls. When it has absorbed the water, there is more surface run-off, which is what fills our dams. We should therefore pray for the rains to continue," said Mrs Mpofu.
She said the city's largest dam, Insiza, was 70,9 percent full, Inyankuni was at 8,3 percent, Lower Ncema held 20,3 percent of its capacity while the decommissioned Umzingwane and Upper Ncema were sitting at 9,1 percent and 4,6 percent respectively.
Mrs Mpofu urged residents to keep conserving water as the city needed every drop.
"In view of the good rains that have been received, the city's residents are encouraged to harvest rain water for non potable use. Everyone has a responsibility to take every opportunity to save the precious liquid as the whole city would suffer if supplies run out," she said.
Bulawayo is facing one of its worst water crisis in recent years.
Last rainy season, a mere one percent inflow was registered, compounding the situation.
The city is said to be operating with a deficit of about three supply dams.
A dam is supposed to be constructed after every 10 years to cater for then increasing population.
Insiza Dam was the last before Mtshabezi, in 1976.
The permanent solution to Bulawayo's perennial water crisis is viewed as the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, which has been on the drawing board since 1912.
In an interview yesterday, council's senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said the water shedding schedule would remain unchanged due to the development.
The city is on a four day weekly water shedding schedule, in all suburbs, in a bid to conserve the fast dwindling supplies.
"As of today, the city's supply dams hold a combined total of 139,6 million cubic metres, which is 38,5 percent of their capacity, up from the worst case of 134,1 million cubic metres, representing 37 percent, on 29 December last year. It should be noted that despite the inflows that have been received in the dams, the situation still remains technically the same," said Mrs Mpofu.
She said although the much anticipated water from Mtshabezi Dam had reached the city, the dam was yet to supply its full potential of about 17 000 cubic metres a day.
"The Mtshabezi pipeline started delivering water on Friday. On average, 3 312 cubic metres a day are being received, against a potential of about 17 200 cubic metres day. We note that Mtshabezi is still on a testing phase," said Mrs Mpofu.
She said if the rains continue, it might translate to good news, as water is likely to flow into the supply dams at a faster rate because the ground was now saturated.
"At the onset of the rains, the ground would be dry and it absorbs most of the water that falls. When it has absorbed the water, there is more surface run-off, which is what fills our dams. We should therefore pray for the rains to continue," said Mrs Mpofu.
Mrs Mpofu urged residents to keep conserving water as the city needed every drop.
"In view of the good rains that have been received, the city's residents are encouraged to harvest rain water for non potable use. Everyone has a responsibility to take every opportunity to save the precious liquid as the whole city would suffer if supplies run out," she said.
Bulawayo is facing one of its worst water crisis in recent years.
Last rainy season, a mere one percent inflow was registered, compounding the situation.
The city is said to be operating with a deficit of about three supply dams.
A dam is supposed to be constructed after every 10 years to cater for then increasing population.
Insiza Dam was the last before Mtshabezi, in 1976.
The permanent solution to Bulawayo's perennial water crisis is viewed as the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, which has been on the drawing board since 1912.
Source - TC
