01 Apr 2014

Gaborone Dam’s worrying water level may have little to do with the mini dams around it.  

Addressing Chobe full council recently, deputy director of water affairs, Mr Pelotshweu Phofuetsile said the total capacity of all those little dams stood at two million cubic meters whereas Gaborone Dam had a 144 million cubic meter capacity.

“These dams therefore make very little difference,” Mr  Phofuetsile said, adding that Gaborone Dam used to fill up even with the existence of these dams. He explained this after one of the councillors; Mr Elson Samunzala raised concern that these dams were suffocating inflow into Gaborone Dam.

Mr Phofuetsile also noted that demand for water stood at 197 220 964 cubic meters while the yield stood at 128 080 000 which implied that there was a deficit. Gaborone Dam, he said, currently stood at 17 per cent while the rest of other dams were either 100 per cent full or at least more than 70 per cent. 

He explained that contrary to what people believed, their department had not closed shop and was still relevant. “Our mandate is to identify dams and ensure there is provision of sources of water, Water Utilities Corporation then distributes this water,” he explained. 

The director also urged councillors to start thinking about using recycled water as the country’s supply for water fails to meet demand. He added that recycled water is already being used in horticultural farms in Glen Valley. 

Councilor for Kachikau, Mr Bobby Setlhare said that recycling might be a good idea as long as people do not fall sick from consuming the water.  Pandamatenga Councilor Mr Jeffrey Mafa harbored some reservations. “For now let us use this recycled water on our plants,” he said. 

Specially elected councilor Ms Cecilia Mlazie felt this was an excellent idea that could work as this practice was used all over the world. “Recycled water is quite clean so this is a welcome development,” she opined.  Ends