'Bulawayo dams hold 3-year supply'

BULAWAYO dams have enough water to last the next three years providing relief to the city's perennial water shortages.

The latest council minutes reveal that the city's main supply dams have recorded an increase in the amount of water collected this year by 23,62 percent compared to the previous year.

The dams, which have a total capacity of 65,86 percent, are expected to supply the city with uninterrupted water for the next three years.

The amount of water in the dams as at end of October was at 65,86 percent compared to 42,24 percent during the same period last year.

Mtshabezi dam, which is 96,06 percent full, is expected to supply the city with water for the next six years. Insiza is 91,48 percent full, Inyakuni 28,80 percent, Lower Ncema 76,15 percent, Umzingwane 45,97 percent and Upper Ncema is 37,95 percent full. "By October 27, the amount of water in the dams was 65,86 percent of the overall storage capacity of the dams, with the total volume being 273,085,430 cubic metres, of which the usable volume was 256,500,322 cubic metres.

During the same period last year, the operational dams contained 175,128,213 cubic metres of water (42,24 percent, thus 23,62 percent less the current storage," the council minutes read.

Council also revealed that the city will not face water shortages in the near future.

The city has, however, maintained its water rationing regime. Low density areas are still pegged at 350 litres per day, high density at 300 litres per day, residential flats with individual meters at 300 litres and cottages have an allocation of 200 litres per day.

Water shortages in Bulawayo have been attributed to increasing demand in the city.