01 Mar 2016

Due to poor rains and the heat wave resulting in the high rate of evaporation leading to low levels of water at Letsibogo Dam, the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has considered introducing water restrictions in the Selebi Phikwe area.

WUC communications and marketing manager Ms Matida Mmipi said this when addressing the business and community leadership of the mining town and sorrounding villages at Syringa Lodge on Friday.

However, she mentioned that they have made recommendations to the minister responsible for water portfolio and are still awaiting his response to introduce water restrictions policy in the area.

She said that currently the Letsibogo Dam is 35 per cent full and this has resulted in the organisation halting provision from the dam to Selebi Phikwe.

She said currently the mining town is supplied with water from the Shashe Dam.

She said the dam has reached a water level where they have to make restrictions such as halting using portable water to water gardens, wash vehicles, fill up swimming pools and water fountains among other things.

She told the mining town leadership that if the minister approves the restrictions, they would have to work hand in hand with the Water Utilities to spread the message and sensitise the communities about the issue.

She said her organisation will get into a vigorous water conservation campaign in the area to inform and request residents to oblige to restrictions to conserve water and use it sparingly.  

She explained that currently the Palapye, Serowe, Mahalapye, Gaborone and greater Gaborone areas are receiving water from the Dikgatlhong Dam which is currently 68 per cent full.

She said the country still needs water augmentation to sustain the demand and through the national water master plan, they have plans put in place.

 ‘The national water master plan main objective is to find opportunities to improve water supply in the country.

These include constructing North South Carrier II project to carry water from Dikgatlhong Dam through the central region to the south parts of the country, harvesting water from the Lesotho highlands and Chobe/Zambezi River, and to utilize the underground water available around the country,” she said.

On giving water waste management services, she noted that WUC will with effect from April 1 provide septic tank and pit larine emptying services in un-serviced areas.

In the meantime, Ms Mmipi said Botswana continues to face huge challenges on water resources management.

She said the main challenge is that rainfall is very low and erratic and drought is common where it takes place in every five, 10 or 20 year cycles.
She also mentioned that “the population is sparsely spread in this big country making delivery of water services very costly.”

Access to the majority of the population and the rest of the country is difficult,” she added. Ends