Zimpapers Logo

Amanda Chikari, Midlands Reporter
GWERU City Council has resolved to re-commission storage tanks in a bid to increase the city’s water storage capacity to supply adequate water to residents following the conclusion of rehabilitation works at a cost of $4 million.

Town Clerk Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza said council rehabilitated the reservoirs in the city’s Kopje area as well as the main supply dam Gwenhoro’s pumping capacity.

The Kopje reservoirs have a total capacity of 65 mega litres and have been lying idle for more than a decade.

In the past, treated water used to be pumped from Gwenhoro Dam straight to residents and the situation resulted in erratic water supplies in the event of power cuts or electric faults.

Over the years, residents in suburbs such as Mkoba 14, Mkoba 19, Ridgemont, Harben Park, Senga and Daylesford have endured dry taps as a result of reduced pressure.

In recent weeks when Gwenhoro and the city’s other supply dam Amapongokwe have been spilling, residents were still facing water challenges because council did not have storage facilities.

In a statement yesterday, Ms Gwatipedza said the re-commissioning of the storage tanks at a cost of over $4 million will improve water supply to residents.

She said council had been failing to supply adequate water to areas in the city’s periphery since the decommissioning of the Kopje reservoirs some years ago.

“The City of Gweru has been failing to supply adequate water to its peripheral areas since the decommissioning of Kopje reservoirs some years back. Following a meeting which was held on February 9 by the City Council, it was resolved that the storage tanks at Kopje be re-commissioned and filled as a matter of urgency to accommodate the peripheral areas with adequate water supply,” she said.

“Total kopje reservoirs holding capacity is 65 mega litres. The total cost already incurred is over $4 million in particular rehabilitating the Gwenhoro pumping capacity.”

Ms Gwatipedza said there will be water supply interruption from today to tomorrow.

“Most pumping activities will be focused on filling up the kopje reservoirs. During this period there will be reduced supply to all areas, therefore residents are encouraged to use water sparingly during this period,” she said.

@amanda49