Power outages affect water supplies
GWERU Mayor Councillor Charles Chikozho says there is urgent need for the city to have a dedicated power line to Gwenhoro Dam to curb erratic water supplies.
Cllr Chikozho said water shortages affecting the town were mainly due to the fact that the power line to Gwenhoro Dam also supplied electricity to other users besides council.
“The city is currently facing water supply shortages due to intermittent power outages which are affecting the city’s pump station, he said. We are having electricity problems from the Gwenhoro line which supply power to pump water to residential areas. If we have a dedicated line we know we will have a continuous supply of electricity meaning a continuous supply of water.”
Cllr Chikozho said the city council has already engaged the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) over the matter.
“We have engaged with Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company over the matter and we are hoping that their response will make the problem to change for the better,” he said.
The city has over the past three days, been experiencing water shortages, with some areas not receiving water and some only receiving water, at certain times of the day.
Meanwhile, residents in Gweru have been advised to brace for a week with limited water supply following the bursting of a major pipe line from Gwenhoro dam.
Town clerk Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza said fixing the broken pipe was going to take about a week resulting in council pumping only 15 mega litres from an average of 45 mega litres per day.
“Gweru City Council is advising its valued residents, clients and stakeholders there is a major burst pipe on our main line from Gwenhoro dam treatment plant,” she said.
“The works to be carried out will require shutting down two of the pump houses and this means pumping capacity will significantly be reduced by two pumps. Water production will be reduced from average 45mega litres per day to 15 mega litres per day.
“The major works are expected to take at least a week to complete.”