02 Mar 2014

An official of Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) says water crisis at Gaborone Dam will not prevent the country from hosting the up-coming All Africa Youth games this year.

Speaking at a water debate in Gaborone recently, Water Utilities Corporation director of infrastructure, Gaselemogwe Senai said the corporation was working round the clock to ensure that the city remained in supply of enough drinking water during the period despite the decreasing water levels at Gaborone dam, which is now at 11 per cent.

He said since 2000, when the country experienced floods, Gaborone Dam had never reached full capacity of over 100 per cent, adding that the dam was left with only three months to dry up if there would be no inflows. Senai also stated that when Gaborone Dam dries completely, the corporation will draw water from the northern dams to save the situation.

He said the main risk was the frequent pipeline bursts but a parallel pipeline to Palapye was being constructed to push more water to the south whilst the second phase of the same pipeline will be constructed from Palapye to Gaborone.

He said another option was to draw water from Molatedi Dam, which stood at 22 per cent, and could supply up to 33 months. ENDS