26 Apr 2022

Just before its flooding season, Thamalakane River has pretty much dried up, prompting Water Utilities Corporation to declare an emergency water shortage here. 

The corporation has announced plans to switch off Borolong water treatment plant, which waters some parts of Maun  from the river. 

“Currently the plant is running on minimal flow…it has technically failed and we expect total failure anytime,” said WUC Head of Business Centre Mr Thabo Ndadi yesterday. 

‘Total failure’, would mean ceasing all pumping, which would create a deficit of four million litres, he said. 

He added this would result in some areas experiencing water supply interruptions. 

“We anticipate low pressure to no supply in Boseja, Matlapana, Disaneng and Matshwane areas. Some areas will be assisted through bowsing,” he said. 

To ensure equitable distribution of supply from the remaining supplies of Kunyere, Shashe and Gogomoga wellfields, a rationing schedule would be introduced, he said. 

Mr Ndadi added that the corporation had already apprised community leaders of the looming crisis. Said Boseja South councillor, Mr Itumeleng Kelebetseng: “They did a good job to engage leaders as key stakeholders in time. It is good that they have come up with rationing measures, we can only appeal to the community to cooperate, as otherwise the corporation will fail to distribute accordingly.” 

Already, he said, there were complaints from some residents that they were experiencing water supply interruptions, and appealed to them to bear with the corporation as it was doing everything possible to ensure they had water. 

Mr Kelebetseng also encouraged residents to pay their outstanding water bills. Thamalakane is a tributary of the massive Okavango River. 

A recent  briefing by North West District Council chairperson, Mr Kebareeditse Ntsogotho revealed that water levels and flows of the Okavango River’s flood cycle of 2020/21 were significantly lower as compared to the same period the previous year. 

Readings taken on April 19, 2021 indicated that water levels in Mohembo, where the river enters Botswana, stood at 1.598m, compared to the previous cycle’s peak of 3.350m recorded on April 22.

The water levels were attributed to low rainfall  in the Angolan highlands  wich is  River’s catchment area . 

However, recent reports indicate that the area has had good summer rains this year, which brings hope that when it eventually floods again at the onset of winter, Thamalakane will have a good amount of water. It takes up to six months for water from the highlands to reach Maun. Ends