09 Jun 2019

Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) in collaboration with the Department of Water Affairs will equip more boreholes to address water shortage in Maun.

Briefing the Maun Administration Authority council meeting in Maun recently, WUC Maun water works superintendent Mr Molaodi Dikgang explained that drying of the Thamalakane River had worsened water shortage in the village.

Mr Dikgang said water in the Thamalakane River was estimated to last for three months only if it did not receive inflow from the Okavango Delta.

In an effort to address the situation, he said WUC had, joined hands with water affairs department to revive some boreholes that were flooded in the past years to re-connect  to the water flow system.

He indicated that the Okavango Delta received only 2 909 cubic millimetres in 2019 compared to 3 900 cubic millimetres in 2018.

On the other hand, he said Borolong and Wenala Treatment Plants which were also fed by the Thamalakane River and provided 7 536 cubic millimetres per day, had since ceased operation since drying of the river from April this year.

Further, he said 17 boreholes were operational which supplied about 7 751 cubic millimetres per day in Maun against the required 14 715 cubic millimetres per day and thus there was a shortfall of 6 964 cubic millimetres of water per day.

He said they had since April this year implemented water rationing in some areas that experienced serious shortage while they were working on finding a long-term solution to the problem.

Nevertheless, he indicated that they were in the process of rehabilitating 11 more boreholes as a long-term solution to the problem.

Boyei councillor, Mr Kebonyekgotla Ntlogela complained that  residents of Sanyedi were struggling with water shortage because WUC was failing them.

Bojanala councillor, Mr Luke Motlaleselelo wanted to know why WUC failed to put measures in place to address the looming water shortage.

In response, Mr Dikgang said the decision by WUC to engage its headquarters as well as the water affairs department was part of efforts to address the situation.

He explained that their challenge was that the corporation was the end user in the water system.

Nonetheless, he said he was optimistic that the move to equip more boreholes would lessen water shortage in Maun. ENDs