15 Feb 2015

The Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has apologised to Molepolole residents after contaminated water entered the supply system in the village.

After the crisis, the corporation was again confronted with severe scarcity of water, which lasted for several consecutive days, something that residents did not take lightly. 

Speaking in an interview, Molepolole WUC general manager, Ms Boitumelo Kgaodi, apologised to the public for the brown and black water that came out of their taps stating that the mandate of the corporation was to supply portable water. 

She said prior to contamination of the water, a pump broke down at the Gaotlhobogwe treatment plant based at Serinane.  She further explained that the pump that needed a new gasket, in fixing it, they had to shut the pump house in order to avoid more damage to equipment.

While attending the pump, it occurred that some people residing  40 km down the pipeline, opened the pipes to steal water and it was then that unclean water went back into the supply system coming out with a brownish colour. Ms Kgaodi explained that the initial strategy they implored was to stop the contaminated water from reaching Thamaga by shutting down the supply system to drain all the contaminated water in all zonal tanks.

In some parts of the village, Ms Kgaodi said they had to remove metres to avoid high bills to customers.  However, she said they had managed to control the situation after washing out all tanks.  

Ms Kgaodi assured residents that they ran some tests and the water was now safe for consumption. Although residents complained that WUC did not communicate the problem to them, Ms. Kgaodi insisted that they used loud hailers and did spot announcements on radio stations to sensitise the residents.

She further clarified that shortage of water was as a result of a blackout at the plant because all of their 24 boreholes in the Molepolole-Thamaga distribution network are all electrified and said only 19 out of 24 have been fixed while the remaining five are being attended to by Botswana Power Corporation.

Ms Kgaodi highlighted that one major challenge that affects the supply of water in the village is that there is no storage facility.  The available storage can only supply Molepolole up to four hours while WUC standards dictate that there should be a 48 hour storage facility to supply water in case of power outages or emergencies.

Plans to procure storage facility failed because of the economic recession; hence WUC installed backup generators in all boreholes which are costly to the corporation.

On the other hand, residents are concerned that their health is at stake due to water shortages as some opt for unsafe alternatives.  Secondly, they blame WUC for not making a temporary provision to provide portable water when the supply was contaminated. They said they did not know how long the contaminated water would run off their taps.

Bonewamang primary school head, Mr Victor Radikgobati said the situation at the school is bad, saying in some days children go without food due lack of water.  He said the storage tanks are dirty.

Kgari Sechele senior secondary school head, Mr Lapologang Kwelagano is also displeased with the water situation as well as he at times they are forced to release students early when there is no water because they use water system toilets. 

“WUC never communicate with us about the water situation in the village,” he said. Chief Public Health Office, Ms Kumbilani Hobona said 10 samples of water have been sent to the laboratory and are waiting results next week. ENDS