Cities dam levels remain critical

WATER levels for dams that supply cities and towns in the southern parts of the country remain critical and may not last until the next rainy season despite the rains received in most parts of the country, latest figures from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) show.

Most dams in the region are below 50 percent capacity with Zinwa urging local authorities to start managing demand for the precious liquid. According to figures from the water management body, as at 10 March 2016, supply dams for Bulawayo, Gwanda, Masvingo and Beitbridge were all below 50 percent of their capacity.

The figures show that Bulawayo is left with only eight months' supply of water with supply dams situated in Umzingwane and Insiza as well as the Nyamandlovu Aquifer having a combined capacity of 39,4 percent.

Supply dams in Gwanda, (Mujeni and Weir Water) are 30,6 percent full and can only last for the next five months before the next rainy season begins. The town is, however, augmenting its water supply from Mtshabezi Dam which is 69,4 percent full. Zinwa figures also show that Off River storages which supply the town are at 13,8 percent of capacity, which can only last the town for the two and half months. However, the town has a huge water supply backup from Zhovhe Dam, which is 69,2 percent full.

In Plumtree-Mhlangwa, Mangwe, Bulilima the situation is not as critical as water sources have a combined capacity of 49,2 percent which can last the town for the next 18 months.

In Masvingo, the figures show that the country's biggest inland dam, Mutirikwi is just 19 percent of its capacity and can last the city for the next 30 months. Mutirikwi dam does not only supply the city but also the commercial sugar farms in the Lowveld.

Amapongokwe Whitewaters and Gwenoro dams, which supply Gweru are 54 percent full and can last the city for the next 14 months, while supply dams for Kwekwe and Redcliff are 60 percent full and can last until the next rainy season.

Zinwa spokesperson Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said the situation was not as dire but cities needed to put in place water demand management strategies to stretch their water supplies to the next season.

"The Zimbabwe National Water Authority, however, continues to emphasise the need for water efficiency in light of the current drought. Zinwa will continue to work closely with other stakeholders to find ways of mitigating the impact of the drought in those towns and cities whose water supply levels are currently critically low," she said.

She said farmers intending to irrigate their crops should obtain water abstraction agreements so that their allocations can be guaranteed.

"Any water use without proper documentation will severely jeopardise the ongoing efforts to plan the available water. Apart from that, any use without documentation constitutes an offence and offenders are liable to hefty fines and or prison terms," said Mrs Munyonga.

The figures from Zinwa also show that supply dams for towns and cities in the northern parts of the country are still above 50 percent full.

Zinwa said dams supplying Harare, satellite towns and Chinhoyi were still 81 percent full, while in Kadoma Claw Dam is 87 percent full.

The water situation comes at a time when figures from the Meteorological Departments show that about 95 percent of the country was still below normal average rainfall to date. Zimbabwe like most parts of the region is projected to receive low rains this season due to the effects of El Nino weather pattern. El Nino, caused by Pacific Ocean warming, is characterised by floods and drought in some areas. Most parts of Africa will this year come under the heavy effect of the weather pattern.