Bulawayo residents could soon see relief from prolonged water shedding following a good rainy season, a council official has said.
Addressing councillors, members of the media and residents during a tour of supply dams, Bulawayo City Council (BCC) Town Clerk Christopher Dube said the local authority is working to upgrade its pumping system to improve water delivery.
“We have had a good rainy season and our dam levels have significantly improved. But we would like our residents to understand that water delivery is more than just about water in the dams,” said Mr Dube.
“It is also about the pumping system. This is why we have been pushing for improvements to our pumping system. If we have enough capacity to pump, with uninterrupted electricity supply, there will be a great improvement in water delivery to residents.”
Acting Director of Water and Sanitation Engineer Kwanele Sibanda said work to upgrade the pumping system is at an advanced stage, with some equipment already replaced.
“We have been working to improve our pumping system. We have replaced two complete sets, both pumps and motors. For the other two, we have replaced the pumps only; the motors are yet to be changed,” he said.
He said some suburbs were already experiencing improved supply.
“As some residents may have observed, there are areas where people have gone for at least 10 days and beyond with uninterrupted water supply. These include Makokoba, Nguboyenja and surrounding areas. Other areas such as Phelandaba have been receiving water consistently for at least three weeks,” he said.
Mr Dube said the council had not yet made a formal public announcement on the improvements as the upgrade work was still ongoing.
“We have not made public announcements because these improvements are happening alongside the upgrades. We want residents to experience the changes first, and then we will make formal announcements once most of the work has been completed,” he said.
“Our hope is that by June we will have significantly improved water supply, ensuring that residents can access water for up to 24 hours a day.”