Bulawayo dams 45 percent full

Bulawayo supply dams now hold 45 percent of their capacity up from 37 percent a few weeks ago.

A report issued by council this week shows that  the dams recorded a 7,76 percent inflow between the end of December 2012 and early this month.

The figure translates to more than 28 million cubic metres gain.

As of 6 February 2013, Bulawayo's five supply dams ' Insiza, Inyankuni, Umzingwane, Lower and Upper Ncema ' held about 162 million cubic metres, which translates to 44,75 percent.

The five dams have a combined holding capacity of 362 million cubic metres but the major supply dam is Insiza.

According to the report, Upper and Lower Ncema as well as Umzingwane dams recorded significant inflows compared to Insiza.

Water volumes at Lower Ncema increased from about 18 to 43 percent while Umzingwane, which was decommissioned last year in August, is now 40 percent full compared to the three percent at the end of December.

Within the same period the volume of water at Upper Ncema rose from two percent full to 11 percent.

Insiza and Inyankuni dams recorded marginal increases from 70 to 71 percent and 8,1 to 8,7 percent respectively.

Last week the city council reduced water shedding hours from 96 hours to 72 a week.

Bulawayo's average daily water consumption is about 100 000 cubic metres.

The city fathers have said the water levels  at the dams were still on the negative and urged residents to continue conserving water.

Although the Government has completed the Mtshabezi pipeline, viewed as the medium term solution to the city's water woes, only a fraction of the expected 17 000 cubic metres is pumped to the city.