01 Mar 2020

Some Councillors in Maun Administration Authority (MAA) are against a planned water disconnection exercise by Water Utilities Corporation (WUC).

Commenting on a briefing to the councillors by WUC water works officer for Sehithwa Mr Lebani Lebani, they said the exercise was uncalled for since Maun was hard hit by shortage of water supply.

Councillor for Senonnori ward, Mr Kenson Kgaga questioned why people should be penalised for bills while there was no water in their areas.

Councillor for Moeti Ward, Ms Botshelobokae Ramasu said the council would be supportive of WUC if there was enough supply of water across the village.

She also questioned if the improved water output was a temporary measure by Water Utilities Corporation.

In his briefing, Mr Lebani said that Water Utilities Corporation would carry out a mass water disconnection due to water bills owed to the corporation.

He said the purpose of the exercise, which was a nationwide initiative, was to improve water sources with the proceeds and to improve service delivery.

He said the debt owed to Maun Water Utilities Corporation amounted to P37 million and P882 million countrywide.

Meanwhile, Mr Lebani said Maun water supply output had  recently significantly improved due to introduction of submersible pumps in some of the boreholes.

He said the Kunyere and Shashe boreholes therefore yielded higher water output due to the submersible pumps, allying fears from councillors who thought the output measure was a once off exercise.

Maun water supply, he said, had significantly improved by 25 per cent compared to the December 2019 period.

He said the intention was for the corporation to convert all diesel-driven engine boreholes into submersible pumps, which had proven to produce better output and were reliable.

He said the current Maun water supply from 18 operational boreholes amounted to about 10 488 cubic metres and against a demand of 14 728 cubic metres per day, adding that water supply deficit had since been reduced from 6 348 cubic metres per day to 4 240 cubic metres per day.

Mr Labani however observed that water rationing would continue in Maun due to limited water supply. ENDS