Leaks compound Bulawayo’s water shortage

While the city of Bulawayo grapples with a water shortage caused by drying supply dams, city officials have expressed concerns over delayed responses to water leaks, leading to significant losses of treated water.
According to the latest council minutes, 188 unresolved water leaks were recorded in the previous month, a situation that councilors have flagged as a concerning waste of water resources.
The Chairperson of the Environmental Management and Engineering Committee, Cllr Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu, lamented that the council lacks adequate staff and equipment to promptly address all reported leaks.
In an interview with CITE, Cllr Ndlovu explained that the council receives between 300 and 400 leak reports each month but can only attend to 80 to 100 cases, depending on the severity of the problem and the resources available.
“The response to leaks depends on the pipe size and the depth of the pipe. Generally, bulk and distribution mains require specific resources, including an excavator, lowbed, TLB, dewatering pumps, a generator, and a forklift. Service pipe leaks mainly require copper pipes and accessories, PVC pipes and accessories, while dewatering pumps are necessary for all water works,” he explained.
Cllr Ndlovu further noted that the council had previously attempted to address the issue by engaging contract plumbers to supplement council staff, but challenges related to employment strategies and payments hindered progress.
“Council engaged contract plumbers to complement our staff in handling water distribution issues. There was also consideration of employing community plumbers around 2020/21, but this initiative did not materialise due to challenges with implementation, employment strategies, and payments. However, with sufficient resources, this approach could be revisited,” he said.
To effectively manage water leaks across the city, Cllr Ndlovu suggested implementing various strategies, including conducting a blitz to address all outstanding leaks over weekends and establishing a dedicated team to focus solely on leak repairs.
“The use of leak detection technology, combined with GIS mapping to document all leaks—both pending and completed—could also be beneficial. Council should engage the community through education and awareness campaigns, emphasising the importance of reporting leaks for timely repairs. Additionally, it is crucial to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of current leak detection and management strategies,” he emphasised.