Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI-Efforts by Chiredzi Town Council to upgrade its water situation could be affected by the current power cuts that have recently resumed after a few months of relief.
The local authority which has been struggling to provide clean and safe water to its growing population, was recently thrown into further distress by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) following incessant load shedding which has immensely affected pumping at its Hippo Valley Waterworks.
The load shedding came at a time when the local authority was trying to put in place measures to boost water pressure to reach higher ground and upgrading of a water system.
In an interview with TellZim News, Chiredzi Town Secretary, Engineer Wesley Kauma, said the current water works were established four decades ago for less than 10 000 people with an initial capacity of 5 megaliters per day but it later increased to 10-mega liters per day.
“Chiredzi Waterworks was established in 1968 for 4000 residents with an initial capacity of five megaliters per day and later increased to 10 Mega liters per day.
“The town has since grown and now requires 22 Mega liters per day including 2 days water retention and fire storage. Water supply has fallen short with Makondo suburb requiring 5 Mega Liters per day and the suburbs have increased to include Melbourne Park, Westwood, Lowlands, and others.
“In 2005 council applied for a PSIP loan to upgrade the water works to 15 mega liters per day but not much was achieved due to limited disbursement until 2012 when UNICEF expanded the water works pump house and desludging of Tshovani Ponds and what is now outstanding is construction of four clarifiers and 4 filtration tanks and corresponding 7.6 m2 reservoirs.
“Also required are ring mains and district measuring area to quantify how much water is being supplied to each ward for billing purposes,” said Eng Kauma.
Engineer Kauma also said the council is constructing a trunk line at Chitsanga Hills to boost water pressure to reach higher grounds like the Magwaza Location.
“We have a 1-kilometer trunk line bypass under construction at Chitsanga Hill to boost pumping pressure so that it reaches higher grounds like Magwaza,” he said.
