Sugar estates face water cuts

MASVINGO City Council has engaged sea divers to open the last abstraction water tower as water in the main supply dam, Lake Mutirikwi has dropped to 7,6 percent level.

The local authority has proposed cutting water to the Lowveld sugar estates if substantial rain does not fall soon.

Mayor Councillor Hubert Fidze has appealed to residents to use water sparingly and appreciate the water shedding measures imposed to save the limited water in the lake.

“As the water situation deteriorates by the day we are bringing in sea divers by the end of the week (last week) to open the last valve at our intake tower. Beyond this valve there is total disaster once it dries up,” said Clr Fidze.

He said the move to engage sea divers is the last resort after it has been realised that the other valves can no longer draw water from the dam because of the critical drop in level of the Lake Mutirikwi.

Clr Fidze said: “If the move fails to yield positive results the situation in the ancient city will be dire and the local authority will liaise with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority to cut supplies to the Lowveld sugar estates for the little remaining water to be able to save the city.”

He said the quality of water drawn through the last valve will be compromised as it needs more chemicals for purification.

“Equally, this means we are now drawing raw water from the final river bed. It will now become much more expensive to clean the water as more chemicals will be needed.

“Residents should bear with us as we have moved to save the situation by shedding water supplies in the residential areas. Let’s conserve our precious commodity,” said the mayor.

He urged residents, government departments and industry to honour their outstanding bills.

The mayor encouraged debtors to approach the local authority to make payment plans.

He said residents should conserve water since water is life.

The critical water situation in Masvingo City has seen the local authority introducing water shedding under which residential areas are pending days without supplies.

Bulawayo has also been hit by a water crisis. The city introduced 48-hour weekly water shedding which started last Monday. — @ walterbmswazie2.