Water pipes vandalism in L/Stone rife

SOUTHERN Water and Sanitation Company (SWASCO) has raised concern about the high levels of vandalism on its facilities in Livingstone.

The company has also called on residents to stop tying plastics and rubbers on leaking water pipes.

SWASCO Regional Senior Manager, Nchimunya Habeenzu, said that his firm was spending a lot of money on repairing damaged water pipes as a result of thefts and vandalism.

He observed that some people were destroying water pipe lines and engaging in illegal connections.

Mr Habeenzu said that there were some, who were tying plastics and rubbers on leaky pipes.

He told the Daily Nation in Livingstone that much as it might seem to be a good gesture, it was however against the law.

Mr Habeenzu said residents should always engage the water utility in an event of a water pipe leakage in their area so that qualified plumbers could be dispatched to deal with the problem.

He said SWASCO was moving away from the culture of tying plastics and rubbers to replacing couplings on leaky pipes.

Meanwhile, the Livingstone City Council (LCC) has urged SWASCO to embark on a leak audit exercise on all water pipes in the tourist city.

Council Public Relations Manager, Melvin Mukela said the water utility should send its staff to assess the situation on the ground.

Mr Mukela said meter readers should be taking note of leaky water pipes in communities as they carry out their duties in order to give a comprehensive report.