Water, sewer infrastructure to get facelift

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THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC)’s ageing water and sewer infrastructure might soon get a major facelift as the local authority is currently negotiating a $36 million loan deal from the African Development Bank, Southern Eye has learnt.

THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC)’s ageing water and sewer infrastructure might soon get a major facelift as the local authority is currently negotiating a $36 million loan deal from the African Development Bank, Southern Eye has learnt.

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU According to the latest council minutes, the money would be channelled towards replacing old pipes.

This comes at a time council is reportedly losing large quantities of water to pipe bursts and leaks with an average of 90 water faults being received per day.

water-page-3-picA-woman-collects-water-after-a-pipe-burst-at-the-corner-of-Main-Street-and-Connaught-Avenue-in-Bulawayo-yesterday-afternoon

“The director of engineering services [Simela Dube] pointed out that the infrastructure was very old and dealing with the leaks and bursts was a challenge. Plumbers were not coping with the repairs and the leaks were increasing every month,” read part of the future water supplies committee report.

“As a result the backlog continued to increase. African Development Bank had facilitated a loan for $36m for upgrading some of the bad pipelines within the system. It was likely that council would get funding from the bank.

“The department was also authorised to engage Loita for a loan to the tune of $26m. This was, however, at proposal stage. Once these funds are available the situation would improve resulting in the likely reduction in the number of leaks and bursts.

“The financial director advised that not much funds were available at the moment, as some of the funds had been used on roads rehabilitation. The department was waiting for the approval of the loans. Once the funds were available the water leaks and bursts would be considered,” the report read.