News / Local
Water rationing reduced from 72 to 48 hours
30 Sep 2013 at 05:36hrs | Views
WATER rationing in Bulawayo has been reduced from 72 hours to 48 hours per week with immediate effect, town clerk Middleton Nyoni said yesterday.
He said the reduction was due to successful continuous pumping of water volumes from Mtshabezi Dam.
"Initially, the number of water-shedding days will be reduced from 72 hours to 48 hours," he said.
"Water volumes from Mtshabezi Dam are now averaging 15 megalitres per day (15 million litres)," Nyoni said in a notice.
"As a result, a decision has been arrived at by Environment, Water and Climate minister Saviour Kasukuwere in co-operation with the City of Bulawayo for consideration of a gradual relaxation of water-shedding."
However, Nyoni said the new water schedule was subject to change in cases of emergency and urged residents to use water sparingly so as to avoid rapid depletion.
According to the new schedule, areas which include Nkulumane, Emganwini, Nketa, Pumula, Sizinda, Tshabalala, Bellevue, Newton West, Southwold, West Somerton, Esigodini, Imbizo Barracks, Mbalabala Barracks, Mzinyathini Irrigation Scheme, all Eastern suburbs and all outside areas except mines will have no water from Monday at 7:30am to Wednesday morning.
For Cowdray Park, Luveve, Magwegwe, Njube, Entumbane, Emakhandeni, Barbourfieds, Mzilikazi, Nguboyenja, Mpopoma, Makokoba, Lobengula, Mabuthweni, Iminyela, Pelandaba and Matshobane, water will be closed on Tuesday at 7.30am and reopened on Thursday morning.
There will be no water cuts in the industrial area and the central business district while all areas will be exempted from shedding on Sundays.
Council introduced water-shedding last year in a bid to manage the city's perennial water problems.
Bulawayo has been facing perennial water shortages for the past two decades because the five supply dams built before independence can no longer satisfy the city's growing population.
The Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, mooted as far back as 1912, has been touted as the permanent solution to the city's water problems that have forced many companies to relocate to Harare.
He said the reduction was due to successful continuous pumping of water volumes from Mtshabezi Dam.
"Initially, the number of water-shedding days will be reduced from 72 hours to 48 hours," he said.
"Water volumes from Mtshabezi Dam are now averaging 15 megalitres per day (15 million litres)," Nyoni said in a notice.
"As a result, a decision has been arrived at by Environment, Water and Climate minister Saviour Kasukuwere in co-operation with the City of Bulawayo for consideration of a gradual relaxation of water-shedding."
However, Nyoni said the new water schedule was subject to change in cases of emergency and urged residents to use water sparingly so as to avoid rapid depletion.
For Cowdray Park, Luveve, Magwegwe, Njube, Entumbane, Emakhandeni, Barbourfieds, Mzilikazi, Nguboyenja, Mpopoma, Makokoba, Lobengula, Mabuthweni, Iminyela, Pelandaba and Matshobane, water will be closed on Tuesday at 7.30am and reopened on Thursday morning.
There will be no water cuts in the industrial area and the central business district while all areas will be exempted from shedding on Sundays.
Council introduced water-shedding last year in a bid to manage the city's perennial water problems.
Bulawayo has been facing perennial water shortages for the past two decades because the five supply dams built before independence can no longer satisfy the city's growing population.
The Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, mooted as far back as 1912, has been touted as the permanent solution to the city's water problems that have forced many companies to relocate to Harare.
Source - southerneye
