Dam water levels remain critical

WATER levels in dams supplying major cities and towns in the country have slightly improved since the start of the rainy season, although they are still critically low to see an improved water supply situation.

The slight improvement has seen Bulawayo water supply dams recording an average increase of nine percent from 22 percent in July to the current 31 percent. Umzingwane and Lower Ncema remain decommissioned.

The six supply dams, Insiza Mayfair, Inyankuni, Lower and Upper Ncema, Umzingwane and Mtshabezi, have received cumulative inflows of about 15 million cubic metres, something the authorities said was insignificant.

In light of the critical water levels, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has reiterated its call for sustainable use of water.

Figures obtained from Zinwa show that the national dam level average has risen to 40,1 percent, about 20 percent below the expected national average of 60, 1 percent during the same period in previous years.

According to the figures dams such as Lower Mgusa, Upper Ncema, Lower Mujeni, Bangala and Exchange have recorded notable increases.

Lower Mgusa, whose main purpose is for irrigation, recorded the highest inflow with water levels having improved by 26 percent since 12 December this year, followed by Bangala (23 percent), Lower Munjeni (14,9 percent), and Umzingwane whose water levels improved by 10,4 percent.

Mutirikwi Dam, the biggest inland water reservoir in the country, is the only large dam that recorded an increase of 0,5 percent, while no movement was recorded for other large dams such as Mazowe, Karoi, Nerutanga and Sebakwe.

According to Bulawayo City Council statistics as at 20 December the city’s supply dams were at an average of 31 percent up from 22 percent recorded in July.

Umzingwane and Lower Ncema who remain decommissioned are at 16 percent and six percent full respectively, while Mtshabezi is at 46 percent capacity, Insiza Mayfair (47,72) Inyankuni (12,19) and Lower Ncema (20,25).

In a statement last week, the local authority conceded that the city’s water situation remained critical with shedding of water supplies set to continue until the situation improved.

Shedding of water however, was suspended during the holiday period from Friday, 23 December 2016 to Monday, 2 January 2017.

“Council will make a review of the shedding programme after the holidays dependent on the consumption patterns and the amount of inflows received into the City’s supply dams,” reads the statement.

Zinwa figures show that in Masvingo, Lake Mutirikwi, is now only 5,4 percent capacity down from about 15 percent in July this year and the lowest in over a decade.

In Gwanda, one of the town’s water sources Mujeni is now at 76 percent, up by about 15 percent as 12 December this year.

In Beitbridge, Zhove dam is at 74,1 percent capacity down from 90,7 percent in July this year albeit having gained 7,2 percent inflows since 12 December this year.

Zinwa corporate communications and marketing manager, Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said most dams across the country had recorded inflows since the start of the rainy season but water levels remain critical. She emphasised the importance of using water sparingly. “Quite a number of dams across the country have recorded increases in water levels as the rainy season gets into full swing

“The water situation remains critical and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority continues to encourage people across the board to use the available water very sparingly and efficiently.

Irrigating farmers should also ensure that their activities are legalised by entering into water abstraction agreements with Zinwa,” she said.

Whitewaters and Gwenoro, which supply Gweru are at an average of 32,5 percent capacity having improved by an average of about two percent.

The figures also show dams supplying towns and cities in the northern parts of the country are still above 50 percent full.

Dams supplying Harare, its satellite towns and Chinhoyi were at an average of 50 percent having received average inflows of about 1,4 percent since the beginning of December.

Zimbabwe like most parts of the Southern African region received erratic rains during the past rainy season due to the effects of El Nino weather pattern.

However, weather experts have predicted improved rains this year, predictions that have also been backed by traditionalists.