News / National
Lake Mutirikwi water levels drop to 7.5%
18 Nov 2013 at 02:19hrs | Views
Lake Kyle - File photo
WATER levels in Lake Mutirikwi have dropped to an alarming 7,5 percent forcing Masvingo city council to push for the revival of emergency water pumping project.
The emergency water pumping project was last used during the crippling 1992 drought when the country's largest inland lake and sole supplier of the town almost dried up.
This has also forced council to consider resuscitating 13 boreholes that were sunk 21 years ago.
Council requires nearly US$1 million to revive the emergency water pumping project that is seen as a temporary measure to ease water shortages blighting Masvingo city until the rains fall.
The emergency water pumping will be done in phases with the water abstraction point being moved from the current point at Bushmead Waterworks to points between 1,5 and 6 kilometres into the lake's deeper waters.
Speaking after touring the Masvingo city council water pumping and purification works at Bushmead on Friday to assess the impact of declining water levels in Lake Mutirikwi, Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti said the level of water in dam was now frightening.
Minister Bhasikiti said his office was already seized with the issue of impending water shortages in Masvingo city due to the declining levels in Lake Mutirikwi.
"There is really a big disaster that is waiting to happen with regard to the looming shortage of water in Masvingo city caused by the declining water levels in Lake Mutirikwi," said Minister Bhasikiti.
"My office is now seized with this matter as there is urgent need to make sure that council urgently accesses US$800 000 to revive the emergency water pumping project.
Masvingo city deputy engineer Mr Edward Mukaratirwa said there was urgent need to revive the emergency water pumping project.
He said there was also need for Zesa to install electricity near the new deeper water abstraction points to make sure that Masvingo's 100 000 residents continue to receive water supplies.
Masvingo town clerk Mr Adolph Gusha said council was adopting a two pronged approach to ease the water problem.
The emergency water pumping project was last used during the crippling 1992 drought when the country's largest inland lake and sole supplier of the town almost dried up.
This has also forced council to consider resuscitating 13 boreholes that were sunk 21 years ago.
Council requires nearly US$1 million to revive the emergency water pumping project that is seen as a temporary measure to ease water shortages blighting Masvingo city until the rains fall.
The emergency water pumping will be done in phases with the water abstraction point being moved from the current point at Bushmead Waterworks to points between 1,5 and 6 kilometres into the lake's deeper waters.
Speaking after touring the Masvingo city council water pumping and purification works at Bushmead on Friday to assess the impact of declining water levels in Lake Mutirikwi, Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti said the level of water in dam was now frightening.
Minister Bhasikiti said his office was already seized with the issue of impending water shortages in Masvingo city due to the declining levels in Lake Mutirikwi.
"There is really a big disaster that is waiting to happen with regard to the looming shortage of water in Masvingo city caused by the declining water levels in Lake Mutirikwi," said Minister Bhasikiti.
"My office is now seized with this matter as there is urgent need to make sure that council urgently accesses US$800 000 to revive the emergency water pumping project.
Masvingo city deputy engineer Mr Edward Mukaratirwa said there was urgent need to revive the emergency water pumping project.
He said there was also need for Zesa to install electricity near the new deeper water abstraction points to make sure that Masvingo's 100 000 residents continue to receive water supplies.
Masvingo town clerk Mr Adolph Gusha said council was adopting a two pronged approach to ease the water problem.
Source - Herald
