BCC grapples with severe water loss

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is struggling to contain non-revenue water losses at a time when the city is facing severe water shortages, with many households going for up to a week without water.

Concerns over the persistent losses and deteriorating water supply infrastructure were raised during the latest full council meeting, where councillors called for urgent measures to plug water leakages and improve distribution efficiency.

According to the minutes, Councillor Tinevimbo Maposa said parts of Tshabalala had gone for an extended period without water, posing a serious health hazard to residents. He said addressing non-revenue water - which includes leakages, illegal connections, and unmetered usage - was key to improving supply.

"Addressing the situation of non-revenue water loss will result in the city having enough water," said Cllr Maposa.

Councillor Khalazani Ndlovu (Ward 10) raised concerns about communication lapses regarding water-shedding schedules, particularly for elderly residents, and questioned the continued collapse of the Magwegwe reservoir.

She also proposed that council committees conduct site visits to problematic areas such as Sizinda and Entumbane, where burst pipes and leakages have persisted for years without lasting solutions.

Councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo added that high-lying suburbs continue to suffer from chronic shortages and urged authorities to investigate the cause.

"Water is scarce in those areas. There is a need to establish why these areas are not receiving water and if the problem can be rectified," she said.

Khumalo also called for awareness campaigns against vandalism of water infrastructure, which she said was worsening the city's water woes.

Councillors further expressed frustration over an unattended water leak in Tshabalala that has persisted for two weeks, and a burst pipe in Sizinda that residents have resorted to using for laundry due to lack of running water.

The Water and Sanitation Department explained that operations at the Mzingwane Pump Station had been temporarily halted to allow the installation of new transformers, with contractors currently on site. Residents were reportedly notified of the interruptions and changes to the water-shedding schedule through the media.

The department also revealed that the Magwegwe reservoir, which receives water from Nyamandlovu and Criterion, had been operating at limited capacity due to cleaning works in three compartments. The reservoir was currently relying solely on Nyamandlovu, as supply from Criterion was disrupted by ongoing maintenance.

This, the department said, had resulted in low pressure and intermittent water supply, particularly affecting high-lying suburbs.

On the Sizinda leak, officials confirmed that the site had been assessed and that a repair programme was now in place. The city believes completing these works will help reduce water loss and improve efficiency.

Meanwhile, the legal department committed to providing councillors with detailed updates on the water situation, including explanations for persistent shortages in affected areas, to help them better respond to residents' concerns.

Bulawayo's water crisis, driven by aging infrastructure, frequent breakdowns, and limited dam inflows, continues to weigh heavily on households - with residents urging authorities to prioritise long-term solutions over short-term fixes.