The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Municipal Reporter
MAJOR rehabilitation works on Bulawayo water works are expected to be done by tomorrow but the local authority has immediately announced the re-introduction of a 48-hour water shedding schedule.
The new development might see some areas going for close to two weeks without supplies. The Bulawayo City Council is implementing major rehabilitation works under the Bulawayo Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (BWSSIP) funded by the African Development Bank.
The BWSSIP programme is meant to improve municipal water supply and sanitation services in the city. In a statement, Bulawayo Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube said as the rehabilitation work comes to an end, as from tomorrow (Monday), the local authority will immediately resort to the 48-hour shedding regime as they continue to conserve the water within their supply dams.
Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Cde Judith Ncube stresses a point during the water crisis meeting held at the Small City Hall on Thursday. Listening (from left) are Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister, Cde Raj Modi, Deputy Mayor Mr Tinashe Kambarami and Bulawayo Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube
“The City of Bulawayo would like to advise that the major aspects of the rehabilitation of the Criterion Water Treatment Plant have been finalised and we are currently working on completing the rest of the works at the plant. We would like to extend our appreciation to the residents of the City of Kings for their patience during the refurbishment of the plant and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that has been brought about by the intermittent water supply. In the meantime, we would like to advise residents of the resumption of the 48-hour water shedding programme with effect from Monday 15 July,” he said.
According to the schedule, areas that are fed from the Criterion Reservoir Nkulumane, Nketa, Sizinda, Tshabalala, Bellevue, Newton West and West Somerton will experience water cuts on Monday from 7.30am and it will be restored Wednesday at 7.30am.
For Emganwini, Pumula and Nketa 9 supplies would be cut on Wednesday at 7.30am and restored on Friday 7.30am.
Mr Dube said in Cowdray Park, Emakhandeni, Gwabalanda and Maplanka water would be cut on Monday at 7.30am and be restored on Wednesday at 7.30am.
Areas that are fed from the Magwegwe Reservoir such as Luveve, Magwegwe, Njube, Entumbane, Mpopoma, Lobengula, Mabutweni, Iminyela, Pelandaba and Matshobana will not have water from Wednesday 7.30am until Friday 7.30am.
Mr Dube said in Lochview, Sunninghill, Marlands, Glencoe, Riverside, Waterford, Manningdale, Willsgrove, Buenavista and Douglasdale water would be cut at 7.30am on Thursdays and pumped at 7:30am on Saturdays.
Esigodini, Imbizo Barracks, Fortunesgate, Selbourne Park, Matsheumhlophe, Parklands, Kumalo, Suburbs, Mahatshula, Woodville, Kingsdale and Queens Park will have no water from Tuesday at 7.30am until Thursday 7:30am. These areas are fed from the Tuli reservoirs.
In Harrisvale, Jungle, Trenance, Richmond, Sauerstown, Neqi, water will also be cut at 7.30am on Wednesday and restored 7.30am on Friday.
He also noted that Babourfields, Mzilikazi, Nguboyenja and Makokoba fed from the Riffle Range reservoir, Hillside South, South Riding, Four Winds, Hillside, North End, Tegela, Romney Park, Paddonhurst, Sunnyside, Morningside, Rowena, Montrose, Southwold, Greenhill, Barham Green, Kenilworth, Ilanda and Burnside fed from the 6J and Hillside reservoir, Mbalabala Barracks and Mzinyathini irrigation scheme fed from Raw Water will have no water supplies from Monday 7.30am until Wednesday at 7.30am.
Industry, mines and the Central Business District will be exempted from any shedding.
The town clerk also urged consumers to adhere to the water rationing limits or face penalties. Rationing limits are pegged at 450 litres per day for high density suburbs and 650 litres per day for houses in the low density areas.
“For those who exceed their water allocations, penalties will be effected against them. The current tariff for penalty is $2,50 per kilolitre and are effected for the domestic users and the rest remain the same as before.
“Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of the water rationing scheme is guilty of an offence. Consumers are urged to monitor their water consumption daily by reading their meters. This helps detect any unnecessary loss of water.
“The ban on use of hose pipes for gardening is reintroduced with this proposed water rationing scheme. Construction with potable water remains prohibited. Consumers are urged to use boreholes and reclaimed water for non-potable uses,” said Mr Dube.
