14 Aug 2020

High water demand  has resulted in acute water shortage in Dukwi.

Tutume Sub-district Council deputy chairperson, Mr Thatayaone Kehitile, said the water reservoir capacity could no longer accommodate the high demand.

Despite being the main source of water for Nata/Gweta constituency through Dukwi well fields, Dukwi experienced serious water shortages that could last up to two weeks.

 In an interview, Mr Kehitile, who is also the area councillor, said in 2019/2020, they proposed that a bigger water tank be purchased for the village under a constituency fund.

 He said before lockdown in April, P1.3 million was credited to Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) for undertaking of the project.

He noted that although WUC had been making efforts to ease the water crisis by bowsing water to schools, the community also needed assistance.

Responding to the concerns, WUC general manager in Tutume, Ms Fenyang Samu said Dukwi water tank project was funded through a community development project scheme to augment water storage capacity in the village.

She said the corporation received the funds amounting to P1.3 million on March 5 to erect the tank, but the project was delayed by the COVID-19 lockdown.

She explained that, as part of the WUC implementation process, the project was on a works scoping phase that would inform the tendering process to select a contractor to undertake the work.

Furthermore, she stated that the scoping phase was expected to last a month and would inform the project execution plan and production of a tentative project schedule.

In addition, Ms Samu highlighted that to further increase water supply in the village, parallel to the water tank scoping, there were ongoing scoping activities for Sowa Water Supply project, which included Dukwi water supply requirements.

“This project may take longer however, as it is meant to ensure sustainable water supply into Dukwi and the surrounding villages,” she said.

 She said it was important to note that the recent water shortage was due to a pipeline leakage between Dukwi Pump Station tank and the village.

Ms Samu said WUC had attended to the leakage and water supply had been restored to the village and bowsing was continuing to ensure adequate water supply. ends