Bulawayo City Council to continue with its water rationing regime

THE Bulawayo City Council says it has no plans to ease its water rationing regime - despite heavy rains which have pounded the city and adjoining provinces.

Council chiefs say despite a week-long downpour, the city's water supply dams have only improved water capacity by a meager 1,8 percent.

The council's five water supply dams have a net capacity of 353,190 million cubic metres, but as of last Friday had 118,731 million cubic metres.

Bulawayo residents are getting used to a four-day a week water rationing schedule after one of the worst droughts in recent years.

With a permanent solution to the water crisis - a US$1,2 billion Chinese-sponsored pipeline from the Zambezi - still two years away from completion, Bulawayo authorities are asking residents to brace for tough times.

As of last Friday, the city's biggest water source - Insiza Dam - was 62,9 percent full. Its capacity is 172,491 million cubic metres.

Upper Ncema is 3, 5 percent full from a full capacity 44,83 million cubic metres while Lower Ncema, which has a full capacity of 18,186 million cubic metres is 11,1 percent full.

Inyankuni Dam, which has a full capacity of 74, 52 million cubic metres is 2, 2 percent full.

Umzingwane Dam, which was decommissioned last year, is 10 percent full. The dam has a full capacity of 42,173 million cubic metres.

Mtshabezi Dam, whose pipeline was commissioned last month, is 94,3 percent full and has a net capacity of 52 million cubic metres.

City bosses say all five dams are located in the Umzingwane Catchment area which was so far seen sporadic rainfall since the onset of the rain season last September.

In comparison, water sources in the northern parts of the country have seen a steady rise in water levels, with Lake Kariba said to be 64 percent full.