‘Byo water problems not linked to deindustrialisation’

BULAWAYO’S perennial water woes have not eased despite massive de-industrialisation that has seen more than 100 firms shutting down or relocating.

BULAWAYO’S perennial water woes have not eased despite massive de-industrialisation that has seen more than 100 firms shutting down or relocating.

BY NQOBILE BHEBHE

The water problem is set to worsen with Bulawayo City Council records indicating that the city

has less than two years of water supply remaining in its dams and that there is a possibility of decommissioning Umzingwane Dam in November.

City authorities say there is need to revisit the water rationing regime in a bid to delay water shedding.

Zambezi-River-near-Zambezi-Town

The depletion period of the dams feeding the city is currently on suppressed demand, with only 128 mega litres being pumped instead f 150 mega litres per day. Council records also show that by end of July, the dams were 52,85% full.

The industrial zone which used to consume the bulk of the supplies is currently operating at below optimum levels.

Early this year, council relaxed its water rationing regime following the heavy rains experienced around the country.

Water rationing in the country’s second largest city was reduced to 24 hours from the 48-hour period which was in place before the rainy season.

Before the introduction of the two-day water rationing regime, residents had to endure as long as 72 hours without water, sparking fears of disease outbreaks.

According to latest council reports, the director of engineering services Simela Dube said, in view of the decline in stored water supply, especially in Umzingwane and Upper Ncema dams, there was need to revisit the rationing regime so as to delay water shedding as much as possible.

“Operations were on relaxed water rationing. Consumption levels did not increase after the relaxation.

“That might have been caused by the fact that industries were non-functioning. There would be need to review the water situation after the rainy season,” Dube said.

In order not to overstretch Umzingwane, Ncema was being fed directly from Mtshabezi, the council minutes read.

Researcher and policy analyst utler Tambo, however, said water shortages did not play much into relocation of industries.

“Yes, water is an issue, but there are other factors forcing companies to relocate from Bulawayo to other places like Harare. Some of these issues are cost drivers and the market,” Tambo told The Standard.

“The cost of doing business in Zimbabwe is high as compared to other countries in the region.Some companies are relocating to Harare just to be closer to the policy makers. It is also an issue to do with the market. Harare has got a large population as compared to Bulawayo. So I don’t think water is the only problem. Harare has got water problems but companies are still operating there.”

Refurbishment of existing Nyamandlovu boreholes through the engagement of German nongovernmental organisation GIZ is said to be on course, with six boreholes out of the 17 best yielding rehabilitated boreholes having electrical issues that need to be resolved.

Bulawayo City Council says only 14 out of the 77 boreholes are currently operational.

The Zimbabwe National Water Authority is rehabilitating 20 additional boreholes, of which 10 have been pump-tested and are under service.

At the height of water shortages in 2012, the Bulawayo City Council introduced water cuts lasting up to four days a week, in which it urged residents to flush their toilets simultaneously on Saturday nights so as to unblock sewer systems in what was dubbed the “Big Flush”.

A lasting solution to the city’s water problems is seen to lie with the construction of a pipeline from the Zambezi River through the long drawn out Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project.