27 Nov 2018

Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila says total water production for the second quarter of 2018/19 stands at 28 693 480 m3 against total demand of 27 235 106 m3 nationwide.

The minister stated that water supply situation for the country varied from district to district and was mainly influenced by the type of water sources in the different geographical locations of the country.

He said Ngamiland, North East, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Boteti, Borolong and Kgalagadi were some of the areas which experienced supply deficit.

“The areas are supplied mainly from groundwater sources and most of the wellfields and boreholes have been depleted due to lack of recharge as a result of drought spells the country has been continuously experiencing.

The situation is exacerbated by high water losses as a result of dilapidated infrastructure,” he said.

He explained that Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) had two online web-based water leakage detection systems used in its primary transmission lines in some parts of Francistown and Gaborone cities.

He also told Parliament that the billing system used by WUC was accurate and of integrity, and that the system was employed locally and internationally by utility service providers for customer billing and customer accounts management.

He further explained that the corporation had stakeholder management programmes through which it engaged water users on various issues including those that related to leakages and efficient water use.

Member of Parliament for Jwaneng-Mabutsane, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile had asked the minister to state the type and capability of the leak detection system that had been installed, and the integrity and accuracy of the leak detection system.

He also wanted to know remedies proposed to reduce the burden of paying for such water losses and what measures would be put in place to engage consumers in addressing future water leakage problems. ENDS