10 Aug 2015

An official of Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) in Serowe says the corporation is rehabilitating the water system to curb rampant water leakages in the village.

Responding to complaints raised by resident during a kgotla meeting addressed by the Member of Parliament for Serowe West, Mr Tshekedi Khama recently, Mr John Motlhaleemang informed residents of Marulamantsi and Makolojwane wards that the water system needed upgrading to cope with the high pressure.

“It is true that we are losing quite a significant amount of water to leakages,” said Mr Motlhaleemang, who added that they repair the water leakages by using steel pipes in place of plastic ones.

Mr Motlhaleemang noted that in many areas of Serowe, except for areas around the Central Transport Organisation, they were using old pipes that have been in operation since the 1970s. The water pipes in question are said to be failing to contain the high pressure from the current reservoirs.

As a result, Mr Motlhaleemang said WUC would not elevate reservoirs or tanks because they would create more pressure that would result in more pipe bursts and water loses.

He conceded delays in fixing the problem and noted that at times they were forced to rush to scenes and rectify leakages that release huge amounts of water.

He also noted that they cover a vast area vis-a-vis the shortage of resources, in particular transport. Another WUC official, Ms Oratile Rankaisang rebuffed allegations that her corporation charged exorbitant water bills resulting from continued estimation.

“We charge based on the readings we get from your water consumption metres,” she said, conceding that on rare occasions WUC estimates since some plots were not accessible.

She cited instances where there were vicious dogs and where gates were locked as some of the factors that may result in them estimating water consumption.

Ms Rankaisang appealed to residents to lodge their complaints at WUC offices so that they could be assisted expeditiously. She, however, conceded that they were experiencing challenges with their billing system. ENDS