The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) will increase the water shedding schedule to four days up from the initial 72-hours owing to severe power shortages coupled with deteriorating supply dam water levels.
Plans for the revised schedule were discussed during a special council meeting Wednesday where councillors agreed to review the water shedding programme upwards by a day.
In the given programme residents will endure dry taps for two consecutive days twice a week.
Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni confirmed the ‘unfortunate’ development to CITE, saying the 96-hour weekly water shedding was with immediate effect.
“In our meeting, Director of Engineering Services, Engineer Simela Dube, advised the councillors that water situation was critical due to internment power supply to Ncema, Umzingwane and Mtshabezi. Similarly Nyamandlovu is affected and interruption of raw water supply to Magwegwe Reservoir is being experienced,” the mayor said.
He said Umzingwane Dam, which was at 4.85 percent would decommissioned soon when the water levels reach four percent.
“Umzingwane is at 4.85 percent and would run out anytime, it will be decommissioned when the levels reaches four percent. Pumping of raw water to Criterion was very low during the past week.”
The mayor added that even though it had rained in the past week, there was no inflow to Mtshabezi dam.
“Showers were experienced recently but the inflow to Nyankuni was insignificant. There was no inflow to Mtshabezi even though the weather forecast had indicated that there would be a lot of rain in November but no significant rains has been experienced ,” he said.
Mguni said their meeting also discussed how areas such Magwegwe, Pumula and Nkulumane would be the worst affected by the 96 hour water shedding as the areas were facing critical water challenges with the existing 72 hours of water shedding.
“Areas around Ngwalongwalo totally have no water and such areas need to be looked upon and provide solutions to the affected residents,” he said.
