31 Jul 2023

Botswana’s limited dam sites and ground water resources contribute to water scarcity in the country, Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) official has said.

This emerged during a WUC stakeholder engagement meet and brief on water supply situation in Ramotswa cluster. 

Head of Business centre Ms Boitumelo Kgaodi said currently WUC supply water through nine dams and 900 boreholes countrywide, with surface water collectively accounting to 65 per cent and ground water to 75 per cent  level.

From the two main sources of supply countrywide ‘their current water levels are expected to sustain us until the next rainy season’. 

WUC she said was faced with challenges because it has  to prioritise areas where demand was higher than supply resulting in other areas having low supply of water.

“Botswana’s domestic water supply gets low when dam levels drop below 33.8 per cent,” she said.

This, she said put a strain on supply options for Greater Gaborone’s over 800 000 residents’ daily with a demand of up to 145ML/day-peak.

She said population spread, infrastructure vandalism, inadequate funding for water projects, poor structured water treatment plants, non-compliance to dam and boreholes operating rules were some challenges that affected efficient water supply.

WUC- lead engineer Mr Abednico Showa said Greater Gaborone/Ramotswa cluster water supply deficit stood at 6MLD, adding that network limitation, power outrages were also some of the challenges interrupting water supply and low recovery rate.

To mitigate the water supply challenges in Ramotswa cluster, he said, the corporation had expanded Mmamashia Treatment Works and constructed a 1200mm pipeline from Mmamashia to Foresthill, adding that they were rehabilitating Siga boreholes and Boatle Treatment Plant with reinforced security at both treatment plants and pump stations.

Mr Showa said that the other mitigation initiatives also involved major projects like Magope-Disana Water Supply Scheme“using the existing WUC gravity main and construction of a Booster Station and Elevated Tank to supply water to Magope-Disana ward and Lobatse Master Plan Project involving pipe works and connection to Mogobane new reservoir”.

“Magope-Disana Water Supply Scheme, Mmamashia Treatment Plant Expansion and Lobatse Water Supply Master Plan are Long-term capital projects at construction stage off date,” he said.

He said WUC has undertaken other various initiatives to ensure water security for all into the foreseeable future with National Water Conservation and Demand Management and Wastewater Reclamation from Glen Valley Wastewater Treatment Works as one of the prolonged mitigation measures underway.

Council chairperson Zaahid Jalal said WUC was crucial part of nation’s Vision 2036 Pillar of “Sustainable Environment” that advocates for water security for all. Ends