22 Oct 2020

Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has revealed that the acute water shortage currently experienced in the North East District was caused by the bursting of pumps at Mbalambi pump station.

Briefing the COVID-19 district task team, WUC general manager - Masunga, Mr Boitumelo Legwaila stated that due to the storms experienced two weeks back, all four pumps at Mbalambi stations burst, hence crippling water supply.

He stated that they, however,  managed to recover two of the four pumps.

Mr Legwaila said due to this mishap, water pressure went down in many villages including Masunga, whereas villages in the far east of the district from Moroka to Jackalas 2 were hard hit, with no inflow over the past weeks.

He also highlighted that WUC managed to reconnect a borehole in Butale, while the Siviya borehole electrification was still underway.

He said Moroka village borehole failed tests early this year due to water contamination and they had engaged water quality experts to conduct tests on the water.

The general manager further stated that WUC was in the process of reviving Vukwi borehole by electrifying it so that it could augment the water shortage experienced in the district.

Mr Legwaila said in the meantime, WUC continued to bowse water to villages in the eastern section of the district with the help of CTO, North East District Council (NEDC) and private bowsers.

He indicated that one of their bowsers was deployed at the Ministry of Education and Skills Development to supply water at schools that experienced water shortage in realisation of the fact that it was critical for schools to have sufficient water supply on a daily basis.

On other issues, Mr Legwaila indicated that the corporation was experiencing a financial challenge due to people who did not pay water bills.

He highlighted that users were not paying bills, hence the corporation could not disconnect water supply due to the fact that water was a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The manager said the corporation could not make money due to the fact that they bowsed water in public water tanks in many villages, which translated to people drinking water at no cost to them.

He said they were currently undertaking publicity campaigns in villages to encourage people to pay water bills. Ends