Council to increase the amount of water allocated to each household

The Bulawayo City Council has relaxed its water rationing schedule due to significant inflows into the city's supply dams.

The city, which is dogged by perennial water problems, introduced a tight water rationing programme in March 2014 to preserve the precious liquid.

The 2013/14 rainy season has seen the city supply dams hold 334 million cubic metres which is equivalent to 77.25% as at end of March 2014, according to the latest council reports.

In a joint meeting between the Future Water Supplies and Water Action Committee and Finance and Development Committee, held on Monday, the city's  director of engineering services, Simela Dube, tabled a proposal to increase the amount of water allocated to each household.

According to the previous water rationing schedule, high density houses were allocated 350 litres per day, while low density houses were allocated 400 litres per day.

Commercial consumers, schools, churches, institutions and sports clubs were allocated 60 percent of average water six moths period ending December 2009.

According to the new proposal, both high and low density houses will now be allocated 500 litres per day, while commercial consumers, schools, churches, institutions and sports clubs were allocated 100 percent of average water six moths period ending December 2009.

The new schedule comes into effect as from 1 May 2014, while penalties will remain at the current level.

"Domestic consumers will now enjoy 5 kilolitres of free water per month free of charge and thereafter there were charged for actual consumption. The more water they used the more they paid. Consumers, who did not exceed their allocation, therefore paid less and were not penalised," Dube explained.

Those who exceed their allocation by  5 to 14 kilolitres will be charged $0.75, while those who exceed their allocation by 14 - 25 kilolitres will fork out $1.

25 kilolitres and above will attract a fine of $1.50.