News / National
Water leak exacerbates Bulawayo's crisis
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Bulawayo residents are enduring a challenging 170-hour water-shedding schedule as drought conditions worsened by El Niño continue to strain the city's water resources. With dam levels dwindling, residents face severe water shortages, but a suspected water leak at the Criterion Water Works in Burnside has been wasting vast quantities of water for over a year.
Locals accuse Bulawayo City Council (BCC) of failing to address the leak, which has become a profitable opportunity for some individuals and businesses. Construction companies and residents in Burnside and nearby Douglasdale are reportedly exploiting the situation, with some selling the leaked water to peri-urban farmers whose boreholes have run dry due to the ongoing drought.
Chronicle reporters observed private water bowsers collecting water from a stream formed by the leak in Burnside on Wednesday. One of the bowsers, with a 10,000-litre capacity, was marked with the name of a local bulk water supplier. Another bowser, owned by a construction company, was spotted collecting water to use in building low-cost homes in areas like Pelandaba West and Mbundane.
A driver of one of the bowsers explained that the water is sold to farmers in areas like Kensington and Douglasdale, who use it for livestock and agricultural activities. "As long as it's not contaminated by sewage, it's suitable for livestock," he said. The driver also noted that poultry farmers with large-scale operations are relying on the leaked water for their birds but declined to reveal the price for a 10,000-litre load.
In addition to commercial use, local residents have been using the water for domestic purposes. Chronicle crews observed three young girls collecting water from the stream for drinking and cooking. One of the girls explained, "Our home is far from here, but we come twice a day to collect water. Our mother boils it before storing it in 5-litre bottles." However, the safety of the water remains uncertain, with no indication as to whether it is treated or raw.
By the time of publication, the BCC's communications department had not responded to requests for comment on the situation. The continued wastage of water has only deepened the crisis, with many residents now relying on unsafe water sources for daily needs. Bulawayo's water supply has been under pressure for years due to factors like population growth, climate change, and poor management.
In September, the Upper Ncema Dam was decommissioned after its levels fell to a critical 2.08 percent, and it followed the closure of the Umzingwane Dam in November 2023. This, coupled with ongoing water-shedding measures, has left many areas without reliable access to clean water.
Residents in suburbs such as Old Lobengula are already using water from leaking pipes for drinking and household tasks. Ms. Mulape Mbela, a mother of two, expressed frustration over the lack of running water in her area. "We haven't had tap water for almost a month. We are forced to fetch water from a burst pipe, even though it poses health risks," she said. She added that boiling water is difficult due to frequent power cuts, making it harder for families to ensure the water's safety.
Mr. Ricky Mafu voiced concerns about a potential cholera outbreak, highlighting that many residents use unclean containers to fetch water from communal boreholes. "People bring dirty buckets to collect water, which compromises its safety," he warned.
The Bulawayo Progressive Residents' Association (BPRA) has also raised alarms about the city's ongoing water challenges. Executive director Mrs. Permanent Ngoma stated that some suburbs have gone without running water for up to three weeks. "The decommissioning of dams has worsened the situation, and areas are going without tap water for extended periods. We have engaged the council to provide more water bowsers," she said.
According to a recent council report, the closure of Upper Ncema and Lower Ncema dams has reduced the daily water abstraction capacity to just 93 megalitres, sourced from Insiza, Inyankuni, Mtshabezi, and Nyamandlovu dams. As the rainy season approaches, stringent measures like the 170-hour water-shedding schedule are being implemented to manage the dwindling water supply.
With residents already turning to unsafe sources, the city's water crisis remains critical, and urgent solutions are needed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Bulawayo's population.
Locals accuse Bulawayo City Council (BCC) of failing to address the leak, which has become a profitable opportunity for some individuals and businesses. Construction companies and residents in Burnside and nearby Douglasdale are reportedly exploiting the situation, with some selling the leaked water to peri-urban farmers whose boreholes have run dry due to the ongoing drought.
Chronicle reporters observed private water bowsers collecting water from a stream formed by the leak in Burnside on Wednesday. One of the bowsers, with a 10,000-litre capacity, was marked with the name of a local bulk water supplier. Another bowser, owned by a construction company, was spotted collecting water to use in building low-cost homes in areas like Pelandaba West and Mbundane.
A driver of one of the bowsers explained that the water is sold to farmers in areas like Kensington and Douglasdale, who use it for livestock and agricultural activities. "As long as it's not contaminated by sewage, it's suitable for livestock," he said. The driver also noted that poultry farmers with large-scale operations are relying on the leaked water for their birds but declined to reveal the price for a 10,000-litre load.
In addition to commercial use, local residents have been using the water for domestic purposes. Chronicle crews observed three young girls collecting water from the stream for drinking and cooking. One of the girls explained, "Our home is far from here, but we come twice a day to collect water. Our mother boils it before storing it in 5-litre bottles." However, the safety of the water remains uncertain, with no indication as to whether it is treated or raw.
By the time of publication, the BCC's communications department had not responded to requests for comment on the situation. The continued wastage of water has only deepened the crisis, with many residents now relying on unsafe water sources for daily needs. Bulawayo's water supply has been under pressure for years due to factors like population growth, climate change, and poor management.
Residents in suburbs such as Old Lobengula are already using water from leaking pipes for drinking and household tasks. Ms. Mulape Mbela, a mother of two, expressed frustration over the lack of running water in her area. "We haven't had tap water for almost a month. We are forced to fetch water from a burst pipe, even though it poses health risks," she said. She added that boiling water is difficult due to frequent power cuts, making it harder for families to ensure the water's safety.
Mr. Ricky Mafu voiced concerns about a potential cholera outbreak, highlighting that many residents use unclean containers to fetch water from communal boreholes. "People bring dirty buckets to collect water, which compromises its safety," he warned.
The Bulawayo Progressive Residents' Association (BPRA) has also raised alarms about the city's ongoing water challenges. Executive director Mrs. Permanent Ngoma stated that some suburbs have gone without running water for up to three weeks. "The decommissioning of dams has worsened the situation, and areas are going without tap water for extended periods. We have engaged the council to provide more water bowsers," she said.
According to a recent council report, the closure of Upper Ncema and Lower Ncema dams has reduced the daily water abstraction capacity to just 93 megalitres, sourced from Insiza, Inyankuni, Mtshabezi, and Nyamandlovu dams. As the rainy season approaches, stringent measures like the 170-hour water-shedding schedule are being implemented to manage the dwindling water supply.
With residents already turning to unsafe sources, the city's water crisis remains critical, and urgent solutions are needed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Bulawayo's population.
Source - the chroncile
