23 Jun 2014

Batswana have been reminded that the responsibility of saving water lies with every individual.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Shoshong on June 20, the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kitso Mokaila, cautioned that water was still inadequate in most villages in Botswana; therefore the little that was available should be used wisely.

Mr Mokaila said the provision of water throughout the country was among government’s priorities; hence the carrying out of big water projects such as the construction of dams and the expansion of the North-South Water Carrier project.

He said most Batswana had a wrong perception that water could be saved by Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) employees only. He urged people to be responsible citizens and make sure that water was saved and used sparingly.

“Some people fill their bath tubs up to the brim, and that water is wasted,” he said, adding that today, people use more water just to bath than in the past where only about 20 litres was used by a whole family to bath, cook, and drink, among others.

The minister stated that currently WUC was working effortlessly to ensure that their services were up to standard by distributing clean water but due to unforeseen circumstances some pipes burst causing unnecessary lack of water in some places.

He said for that reason, the process of installing pre-paid meters in homesteads in an effort to conserve water was in the process.

He pointed out that pre-paid meters were an effort to regulate water usage as the consumer would be in control of their own water usage, as they decide how much water to purchase saying that would curb complaints of high water bills.

He said people would budget for their own water bill as to when they need to use water as prepaid water meter speaks both to the apparent need to ration and manage water carefully in the face of scarcity.

Mr Mokaila also warned people against vandalising stand pipes in an effort to water their livestock saying it was not only a danger to their lives, but it was a serious crime as well.

As people seem to be longing for the days of the Department of Water Affairs and local councils as water authorities, the minister said WUC was working to perfect the water lines so that they be in a good condition.

He said with Water Affairs, individuals were required to purchase their own different material and that largely affected distribution of water in some places.

He said some would buy different standard material that was not durable and in the process would negatively affect the entire water distribution system.

He said WUC’s goal was to deliver a reliable supply of clean and safe drinking water at an affordable price and were still working on setting the infrastructure right.

Minister Mokaila hailed the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Phillip Makgalemele for establishing and appointing a Water Crisis Management Committee that looked into water issues in his Shoshong constituency. ENDS