Bulawayo cracks down on illegal JoJo tank connections

The City of Bulawayo has raised alarm over a growing trend of illegal JoJo tank connections, warning that some residents are bypassing water meters by connecting storage tanks directly to the municipal water reticulation system, a practice the local authority says amounts to water theft.

Councillors say the illegal connections are depriving the city of much-needed revenue at a time when Bulawayo is battling chronic water shortages and implementing strict conservation measures.

The concerns were raised during a meeting of the Future Water Supplies and Water Action Committee, where councillors called for the establishment of a dedicated inspection team to investigate unlawful water connections across the city.

The discussions come as Bulawayo continues to enforce a water-shedding programme aimed at conserving dwindling supplies while awaiting the next rainy season and pursuing long-term water augmentation projects.

During the meeting, one councillor commended council's efforts to secure additional water sources but expressed concern over the increasing abuse of the city's water distribution network.

The councillor noted that although many households had installed JoJo tanks to store water during scheduled outages, some residents were illegally connecting the tanks directly to council's reticulation infrastructure before the water passed through municipal meters.

He described the practice as criminal, saying it amounted to theft of treated water and deprived the local authority of revenue required to maintain and expand water infrastructure.

The councillor proposed the creation of a specialised inspection unit to conduct citywide investigations into suspected illegal JoJo tank installations and other unlawful water connections.

The committee's deliberations underscored the challenge of balancing water conservation with the need to ensure residents continue receiving adequate supplies amid recurring droughts and constrained water resources.

Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart reiterated that the city's long-term solution to persistent water shortages lies in accelerating major water augmentation projects, particularly the proposed Glassblock Dam, which he described as critical to securing Bulawayo's future water security.

He revealed that a draft Water Purchase Offtake Agreement had already been submitted to the central government and that council was awaiting a response.

Coltart also warned that preliminary weather forecasts indicate the upcoming rainy season could be below average, making it essential for both central government and the local authority to prepare for another potential drought.

He said the government had already begun implementing drought mitigation measures and urged council to adopt a similarly proactive approach.

Supporting calls for stricter enforcement, another councillor said the city had demonstrated commitment to addressing Bulawayo's water challenges and should now act decisively against residents engaging in illegal water connections.

She said bypassing water meters constituted a criminal offence and those found responsible should face the full force of the law.

The councillor also expressed optimism that the central government would expedite its response on the Glassblock Dam project, saying the development would significantly improve Bulawayo's long-term water security.

The committee's concerns come as residents continue to endure scheduled water shedding, with JoJo tanks becoming an essential coping mechanism for households and businesses affected by prolonged supply interruptions.

While councillors acknowledged the importance of water storage tanks in helping residents manage intermittent supplies, they warned that some users were undermining the system through illegal connections that allow water to bypass official metering infrastructure.

The committee stressed that protecting every litre of treated water has become increasingly important as Bulawayo faces mounting pressure from climate change, erratic rainfall and growing urban demand.

Council maintained that improving the city's water security will require sustained investment in infrastructure, responsible water use, stronger enforcement against illegal practices and the successful implementation of long-term water augmentation projects.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the committee adopted recommendations on water augmentation while reinforcing calls for enhanced monitoring and enforcement to protect Bulawayo's limited water resources.