Zimpapers Logo

Thandeka Moyo, Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO’s water supply dam levels have risen slightly given the continued rainfall being experienced in most parts of the country including in the reservoirs’ catchments.

Water in the city’s dams had  fallen to critical levels before the onset of rains, forcing the Bulawayo City Council to implement a 72 hour water shedding schedule which has since been suspended.

According to statistics from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) as of January 4, Upper Ncema in Matabeleland South stood at 8,0 percent full from 6,0 previously recorded on December 24 while Mtshabezi recorded a 0,4 percent increase and stands at 46,6 percent full.

Lower Ncema Dam, recorded a slight increase to 11,5 from 11,3 percent full under the same period.

In Matabeleland North, supply dams, Bubi-Lupane and Insukamini in Gwayi remained at 50,7 percent and 44 percent respectively.

Zinwa corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said the situation was encouraging though members of the public must continue to save water.

“The national average has increased from 41,4 percent last week to 44 percent, though the figure is still below the national average expected during this time of the year. The dam level average is usually around 60 percent during this period of the year,” she said.

“While appreciating the upward movement of dam levels, Zinwa, continues to urge water users in all sectors to use the available water very sparingly and to practise rainwater harvesting.”

In November, BCC introduced a 72-hour water shedding schedule after water in its supply dams drastically fell to a combined 30 percent.

However, in the latest minutes, the local authority — which had given residents a reprieve during the festive season — said it had decided to totally lift water shedding as it continues to observe the situation and come up with more innovative means to conserve water.

According to a report by council’s department of engineering services, it was noted that water shedding was largely ineffective as the city’s water distribution system is old and faced major breakdowns due to burst pipes because of air accumulating in the system during shedding periods. —

@thamamoe