22 Sep 2014

Deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Macheng Macheng has encouraged the Ministry of Education and Skills Development to replicate the grey water project to other institutions of learning nationwide to achieve efficient water resources management.

Speaking at the handing over of the Motsumi Junior Secondary School grey water recycling project to the education ministry on September 18, Mr Macheng said Botswana was faced with challenges of shortage of water due to low rainfall, high evaporation rate, water quality caused by salinity of underground water, water waste, especially in institutions.

He added that the school’s project was completed in October 2011 as an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) initiative which aimed to ensure promotion of grey water recycling at institutional level in order to reduce demand on fresh water supply.

He also said Botswana as a developing nation required water for economic growth, hence the current water demand in the country for the various sectors of the economy stands at 221 million cubic meters per annum.

He indicated that it was expected to rise to 225million cubic meters per annum by the year 2016. Out of the total demand, only 218 million cubic meters per annum was currently committed for use.

Mr Macheng said some of the initiatives within the water conservation and water demand management strategy were use of alternative water sources such as grey water recycling, rain water harvesting and effluent utilisation were encouraged at the national, institutional and household level.

He said to attain 100 per cent utilisation, the water sector required participation and involvement of the various stakeholders such as the public sector, private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGO) and the public.

He further noted that apart from Motsumi JSS project, the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) was also demonstrating alternative water sources through rain water harvesting at Our Lady of the Desert School in Francistown and in Shoshong, grey water recycling at Madiba and effluent utilisation through a constructed wetland system at the DWA headquarters.

Central Regional Education Operations director, Mrs Neo Morolong said the Motsumi JSS Grey Water recycling project had been tried and tested, thus have to trust and appreciate it because it had reduced the amount of the water bill since 2011.

Mrs Morolong also said the water used in the project was from the school hostel bathrooms. She added that their intention was now to go to the next level of taking back the water for reuse in the school hostel bathrooms owing to high water usage.

She further said time was nigh for Batswana to appreciate water recycling projects because they help reduce water shortage of water and water bills. ENDS