Gweru City Council introduces tight water rationing

GWERU City Council has introduced a tight water rationing and restriction regime following the fast dwindling of water supplies at its main supply dam, Gwenoro.

A report released by the council stated that as at 31 December 2012, Gwenoro Dam raw water levels had reached a critical level of 16 percent.

Erratic rainfall patterns and poor inflows into the city supply dams necessitated the tight water rationing programme.

In a statement signed by the town clerk Mr Daniel Matawu, the city council announced that the tight water rationing schedule commenced on 1 March. The council also, beginning 1 April, banned the use of hosepipes or sprinklers, for watering of lawns, gardens, sports fields or for washing vehicles as well as filling up swimming pools using municipal water.

"The council will consider it an offence if citizens are to use hosepipes or sprinklers for watering lawns, gardens, sports fields or washing motor vehicles involving municipal water.

It will also be considered an offence to fill up swimming pools using municipal water. Again charges will be pressed against individuals who will leave the tap running without anyone attending to it," read the report.

The report said such water rationing will apply to both high and low density suburbs, hotels, lodges, industry, schools, colleges and shops.

Individual households were expected to use a total of 500 litres a day while individual flats will use 450 litres per day.

All residential flats which are bulk metered will have 50 percent of average water usage for the two-month period ending 31 December 2012, while all residential flats with individual meters will be allowed to use 450 litres per day.

"Multi-purpose buildings with bulk meters will be rationed 50 percent water usage for the two-month period ending 31 December 2012, while hotels, guest houses, hospitals and clinics will be rationed 80 percent of average water usage for the two-month period ending 31 December 2012.

Restaurants will use 75 percent of average water usage for the same period while industrial consumers, commercial consumers, schools, churches, institutions, sports clubs, colleges, police camps, prisons and army barracks, etc will also be rationed 60 percent of water usage for the two-month period ending 31 December 2012. Building operations on new vacant stands will be rationed 500 litres per day and there must be evidence of development taking place on the stand," read the report.

While the report noted that no allowances shall be given for swimming pools, weddings and other gatherings, it, however, said rebates may be considered in the case of funeral gatherings.

"Underground water leaks will attract 50 percent rebate on the penalty but full cost of water which went past the meter in the first instance.

"The second instance will be within three months of the first on 25 percent on the penalty but full costs which went past the meter. There will be no rebate on the third instance, the penalty will be paid in full," read the report.

Surcharges will be imposed for all excess consumption per kilolitre or part thereof twice the last band rate for low density areas, twice the last band for domestic peri-urban, while non-urban will have twice the normal rate as well as non domestic peri-urban.

If a customer exceeded the allocation on  three consecutive times, the surcharge will be doubled.

"Again, consumers are required to monitor their daily consumption of water by reading their water meters every day for this will help deter unnecessary loss of water," read the report.