The Bulawayo Water and Sewerage Service Improvement Project (BWSSIP) is almost 95 percent complete with the installation of new pumping equipment, and rehabilitation of water and sewer treatment plants set to improve the city’s water supply and sanitation services.
The project which started in 2015, funded, to the tune of US$37 million is expected to end this month, however, the local authority has asked for an extension due to delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, and members of the Joint Operating Command (JOC) had a tour of the devolution and BWSSIP projects at Inyakuni Booster Station, Ncema pump station, criterion water treatment works, Southern Areas sewer treatment works and Vulindlela Primary school in Cowdray Park on Wednesday.
Speaking during the tour, the Acting Director of Engineering service, Engineer Skhumbuzo Ncube said the remaining works are for the protection of the bypass and circuit breakers at Ncema.
“Overall, the project is around 95 percent, that is physical progress. Disbursement we are at 97 percent. Under African Development Bank (ADB) funded projects we went to Ncema where we saw new pumps that have been installed, the work that is ongoing on the protection of those pumps in terms of bypass and circuit breakers, the challenge in that project has been the supply chain being affected by Covid-19 hence the project even though it is ending in June we have to extend the project because some of the projects are still yet to be delivered from Europe and we are anticipating the delivery of this by end of June and unfortunately that is when the project is ending so we had to consider extending that project because its very key to the overall performance of that project,” said Eng. Ncube.
He said if the by-passer breakers are not installed they will affect the pumps as they will be still vulnerable to any power surges.
Under the program, the supply and installation of by-pass breakers at the pump station were rehabilitated at a cost of US$1.7 million and the work is 65 percent complete while the Criterion water treatment plant was rehabilitated at a cost of US$1.1 million.
“Other projects were the upgrading and the renewal of water pipes in Pumula, Luveve and other areas where almost 171km water pipes were installed, over 8 100 meters were installed, so this is one key reflective project that we have done in years since 2010,” said Eng Ncube.
Meanwhile, the other key project done is the rehabilitation of the outfall sewers at the Southern Areas Sewer Treatment (SAST).
Engineer Ncube added that under the African Development Bank, they did the upgrading and rehabilitation of sewers in Pumula, Nketa, Nkulumane, Tshabalala, and Cowdray Park they put new pipes.
