03 Feb 2019

This time a year ago, the greater Gaborone dwellers were in panic mode as taps threatened to go dry due to low dam levels.

Water woes in the area were escalated by continuous bursts of the north-south carrier pipes, a situation that left many resorting to buying water from private borehole operators.

With the country currently going through a dry spell due to acute rainfall shortage, the challenge of supplying the greater Gaborone area with water has grabbed the attention of the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) that strived to repair the nation’s ailing water infrastructure.

To remedy the frequent pipe bursts, WUC on January 28, closed down the water carrier line for major upgrade works that entailed replacement of glass reinforced plastic (GRP) pipes with steel pipes.

The P440 million project would be expected to cover a stretch of 23 kilometres from Rasesa to Mmamashia and will be done in five shut down phases to minimise the impact of water supply to greater Gaborone.

Speaking during a media tour of the project, WUC chief executive officer, Mr Mmetla Masire, explained that pipes’ replacement was motivated by the commissioning of pump station 4.1 located near Serorome valley, which was expected to increase  water pressure to the rate at which a GRP could not withstand.

Even though the upgrade work might still be in its infancy stage, Mr Masire expressed delight at its progress.

“I am pleased to assure Batswana that the project is progressing well and on schedule hence we are hopeful that the phase will be completed within the stipulated 17-day period,” he said.

Mr Masire, however, assured the public of no major water reticulation disruptions during the shutdown as both the Bokaa and Gaborone dams had adequate water levels to sustain the area during the shutdown.

Contractors’ representative, Mr Omar Darabseh, also reaffirmed progress of the project, adding that they were able to meet their 350 metre-pipe replacement per day target.

He, however, indicated that their progress might hit a snag as they approach Bokaa due to the delay in relocating residential plots to make way for the pipe line.

“The relocation of some residential plots and other service providing infrastructure like Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) electricity lines might slow down the project progress if not relocated on time,”  Mr Darabseh said.

Completion of the entire 23km pipe replacement, which was scheduled for November this year, would be expected to bring the end to greater Gaborone’s water woes.

It would also improve the water reticulation in Molepolole and Kanye, which were hard-hit by water shortage. ENDS