03 Jun 2015

Private public partnership for water loss reduction called ‘somarela thothi’ will be launched in Gaborone on June 8.

The release from Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) stated that Botswana was facing serious water challenge due to drought, water scarcity and effects of climate change.

It said the increase in water scarcity combined with population growth and augmenting economic development were representing huge challenges for the sustainable management of water resources in the country.

It further said the dam, which was supplying the capital Gaborone with drinking water still remained almost empty at the end of the present rainy season.

The greater Gaborone water demands were only met from the existing North-South Water Carrier Scheme 1 and the supply from a dam in South Africa, said the release.

According to the release, Botswana was one of the most water scarce countries in the SADC region and the current demographic developments as well as climate change effects are already leading to dramatic consequences.

“The trans-boundary water supply projects are currently in the pipelines amongst them, a water transfer scheme from Lesotho and from the Chobe-Zambezi,” stated the release. It further added that a Water Loss Reduction Project is being implemented in the greater Gaborone area.

The Botswana Water Utilities Corporation (WUC), the German Development Corporation, the Limpopo river basin commission and the First National Bank Botswana Foundation (FNBB – foundation) are working in partnership to contribute to the reduction of water losses within the greater Gaborone water supply area.  Ends