19 May 2014

It has now become a norm for farmers in Letlhakane to leave their livestock to roam around unattended because they are assured that the animals will remain within the vicinity of the village to drink readily available water from the leaking sewage line.

Unlike farmers, who have found a watering hole for their animals in the leaking sewage pipe, villagers have complained of the unbearable stench and the health hazards posed by the leaking pipe. They stated that the leaking sewage pipe put them in danger of contracting water borne diseases.

They were also concerned that the contaminated sewage water might infect their animals and disqualify them from being sold at the lucrative Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) market. Water from the leaking sewage pipes also worsened the problem of high incidents of Malaria infection in the Boteti area.

The water served as a breeding place for misquotes and as such defeated the health department’s efforts to fight the deadly disease. “We have seen school going children wading through the stinking water and risking infection. Also this sewage water has now contaminated some of our natural water streams,” they said.

In an interview, Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) Letlhakane station manager, Mr Gothusang Kehuparetse, said his office was aware of the leaking pipe at Mokgobelele ward. He added that the leakage was caused by a faulty system that caused the sewage water to reverse before reaching the sewage pond.

“The pump station at the ponds does not work properly, which results in the back flow. However, the corporation is working around the clock to resolve the issue. As we speak the pump station is being repaired,” he said.

Mr Kehuparetse also revealed that the waste water ponds were recently refurbished in a project that included, among others, increasing the depth of the two anaerobic ponds by one metre, base lining all the five waste water ponds with a water proof plastic membrane, construction of two waste drying beds and offloading bay to be used by waste water tankers.

He added that a complete sewage system that will cater for the whole village would cost about P100 million. “Currently WUC does not have enough funds to finance a project of that magnitude,” he said. Ends