21 Apr 2016

Molepolole based Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) general manager, Ms Boitumelo Kgaodi has acknowledged acute water shortage that has hit some parts of Molepolole.

Responding to concerns raised during the Presidential Inspectorate Task Team’s visit to Molepolole on Monday.

Ms Kgaodi said the hardest hit areas were Garanta, Lekgwapheng and Garamotiketsane, Kgosing, Lesetlheng and Phalane wards.

She explained that the water shortage was worsened by declining yields from Suping and Malwelwe wellfields due to low rainfalls as they relied on underground aquifers.

She explained that they had hoped to avert the problem through the construction of six additional boreholes at Malwelwe to complement the existing 18 at Suping and Gaotlhobogwe wellfields.

She further told the meeting that the water shortage was also exacerbated by the old network which required to be rehabilitated as it was old and prone to leakages that exceed 400 cubic litres per month.

The other challenge, she said, was the capacity of existing tanks that were only able to store water supply for four hours as opposed to the required standard of 48 hours.

Ms Kgaodi, however, expressed optimism that the proposed water rehabilitation network that was currently being carrying out in some parts of the country would help address the water shortage in Molepolole.

She said hope was on the North South Two NS2 water project passing through Thamaga, saying once complete, they would not be responsible for supplying Thamaga hence Molepolole getting more water supply.

She dismissed allegations that water in Molepolole was not treated to the required standards, noting that  the water was treated at the Gaotlhobogwe treatment plant.

She said a short-term solution would be to bows water for the affected areas although they  were challenged because they were currently operating with one bowser since the other two were out of order.

Residents had raised concerns during the meeting that the increasing water shortage in the village was likely to hamper development projects aimed to improve the lives of communities. ENDS