23 May 2019

Water Utilities Corporation project engineer in the northern region, Mr Tawana Chilume says the water crisis in Jackalas 1, Senyawe and Butale is due to a misplaced water reservoir in Moroka.

Briefing councillors during a full council session in Masunga recently, Mr Chilume explained that ideally the tank should have been erected at Jackalas 1 because it was the highest in elevation, but could not disclose why this was overlooked in 2004.

He said there were design errors experienced during the initial stage, and that the tank was erected in Moroka which resulted in water gravitating back to the village reservoir because the other villages were at a higher elevation.

Mr Chilume explained that the North East District and Tutume sub-District water supply scheme would be able to address the water crisis in the north east as the corporation would upgrade and refurbish works within the reticulation system.

He noted that government had sourced a P250 million loan from the World Bank for the implementation of the North East District  and Tutume sub-District project which commenced in 2017 and was expected to be completed in 2020.

The engineer said the design and layout of the project had been completed, and that the procurement of works had commenced in April.

He also noted that a pressure tank would be erected at Kalakamati, saying it would supply water to Masunga and the greater Masunga area.

He said currently Masunga was benefiting twice from the water supplied by Kalakamati and Mbalambi output water works, hence limiting supply to the eastern section leading to water shortage.

He said with the refurbishment of the works, Masunga would be detached from the Mbalambi output water works, adding that refurbishment and upgrading would also be done at Moroka to ensure water flows to the villages currently experiencing shortage.

Mr Chilume stated that they would refurbish the Masingwaneng water plant so that it could be able to treat 14 mega litres of water per day instead of the seven mega litres it currently treats.

Councillors Kudzani Tobokwani and Bakani Badzili of Themashanga and Siviya respectively, complained that villages in the east were suffering from serious water shortage, adding that the water reticulation system seemed to be benefiting villages in the west than those in the east.

Councillor Tobokwani further asked how the corporation would address supply interruptions when they upgraded the system to ensure people did not suffer.

Responding to questions, Mr Chilume said there were three pump sets at Ntimbale Dam, which meant that there would be no shutting down of the whole system completely during refurbishment.

He said water shortage in the eastern villages would be addressed by the new reticulation network that would eliminate Masunga from the Mbalambi water works to ensure the carrier pipe to the east was boosted.

Mr Chilume highlighted that the periodic refurbishment of the Moroka reservoir would also ensure there was sufficient water supply in the whole district.

The engineer explained that the water source, being Ntimbale Dam, was on the western side of the district hence the supply network originated from the west. He added that it meant that villages closer to the source would benefit more. ENDS