08 Jun 2015

The private public partnership initiative for water loss reduction dubbed Somarela Thothi will be launched on June 8 this year at Gaborone Yacht Club.

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

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

It further says the dam which is supplying the capital Gaborone with drinking water still remains almost empty at the end of the present rainy season.

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

According to the release, Botswana is 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,” states the release.

It further adds that a Water Loss Reduction Project is being implemented in the greater Gaborone area.

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