Masisi rolls out water delivery plan
Commissions the Masama- Mmashia 100km pipeline Scheduled to do groundbreaking on Mononyane- NSC connection P600m project
President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi is today, Friday, not only officially commissioning the 100 kilometres Masama- Mmashia pipeline, but is also getting closer to fulfilling his promise of delivering potable water to the greater Gaborone area.
The pipeline was constructed by Khato Civils Botswana to the tune of P781 million. Khato has not only finished the construction within the stipulated time, but has also through its Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR) left its footprints by giving back to Leshibitse, Artesia, Rasesa, and Bokaa villages through which the pipeline passes.
The projects include a house for a destitute family, electrification of a library and provision of porta caravans used as offices at the clinic, which will be handed over at a later date.
Botswana Guardian has it in good authority that Masisi will officiate at three events organised by the Ministry of Land Management Water and Sanitation, which are all related to provision of potable water to the southern part of the country.
The three projects are Masama- Mmamashia pipeline which is being commissioned today in Mmamashia under the theme, ‘ 100kms of flowing water to your homes’ while the other two are the groundbreaking of the Gamononyane- Molepolole North South Carrier Connection Project which Masisi is expected to officiate at a date still to be announced.
The project is awarded at contract amount of P600 million and will start in October 2021 to April 2023 entailing the construction of 43km 700mm diameter Steel Pipeline from Gamononyane pump station ( PS) to the proposed 20ML reservoir in Molepolole.
Further, there will be a construction of four kilometre 160mm diameter uPVC pipeline from proposed Mmanoko take off node to Mmanoko existing village tank, as well as construction of 1000l/ s Mmanoko Pump Station, and upgrade of Gamodubu Pump Station to 1000l/ s, and the Lobatse Water Plan, whose objective is to improve water supply to Lobatse and villages in Goodhope Sub- District. Major projects such as Leather Park, Pioneer border gate and Milk Africa are also expected to benefit.
The scope of the project covered construction of a dedicated 100km Masama connection pipeline from Masama Wellfields to Mmamashia Water Treatment Plant in order to augment the NSC 1 pipeline water supply to Greater Gaborone. The contractor Khato Civils Botswana anticipated 12- months to complete the project at contract amount of P781, 555,356.90.
It is an emergency water project designed to address the current water deficit in the southern part of the country. The Wellfields were identified as part of a conjunctive water supply scheme to augment water demands to Greater Gaborone and planned to address water deficits within the currently water stressed areas of greater Gaborone, including Molepolole cluster, Kanye cluster, Mochudi cluster, Ramotswa cluster, Lobatse and Barolong cluster.
The Masama Wellfields comprises Masama East and West wellfields. Masama East wellfields has 32 production boreholes, providing 32Ml/ day, and Masama West has 24 production boreholes, which also provides 32Ml/ day.
In an interview Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Service, Bonolo Khumotaka said that Gamononyane Molepolole NSC Connection Project to the NSC was conceptualised as part of the greater Kanye NSC Connection project whose components were the connection of four villages of Thamaga, Moshupa, Kanye and Molepolole to the NSC pipeline. However, due to limited funds, a decision was taken to begin with the Kanye leg which would supply Thamaga, Moshupa and Kanye.
“The rationale for this decision was that when complete, the Kanye leg would avail the then source for Thamaga which it shares with Molepolole for sole supply to Molepolole hence increasing the volumes available for Molepolole”. She said currently water supply for Molepolole is from groundwater resources in East Suping and Gaotlhobogwe wellfields.
“Unfortunately, groundwater resources are highly unstable, more especially from the fouling characteristics leading to failure of the boreholes in the region”. This demonstrates the need for alternative water supply now planned through the NSC node from Gamononyane which will enable potable water supply from surface sources.
Khumotaka said for this one the theme is, “Embarking on a journey to hydrate Molepolole” and the objective is to augment water supply to Molepolole, Mmanoko Cluster villages, Thebephatshwa BDF Camp, Kopong and Gamononyane villages through a connection pipeline to the North South Carrier pipeline at Gamononyane Pump station.
The present water supply sources within the villages are inadequate with Molepolole current demand at 12ML, while it gets a supply of 9ML per day. She said the expected supply for Gamononyane is 24 ML and from this it supplies Kopong at 3.5ML/ day, supplies Gamononyane Cluster at 0.5 ML/ day, 5ML will be supplied to Kopong, 1ML supplied to Gamodubu and Mmanoko, 3ML supplied to Thebephatshwa while 15ML supplied to Molepolole.
Khumotaka said construction of the Lobatse project under the theme: ‘ Revising and Rebuilding Lobatse through enhancing water supply’, is anticipated to be completed in 2022. This project will be able to sustain water supply needs for the area up to the year 2042.
She said the project beneficiaries are mainly along the Gaborone- Lobatse corridor. These include Mmokolodi, Crocodile Pools, Lion Park, Setlhare, Ramotswa, Otse Police, Mogobane, Seuwane, Ntlhantlhe, Lekgolobotlo and Mogotlhwane.
Additional villages down the corridor that will also benefit include Goodhope Sub- District area that is Goodhope- Pitsane Siding, DigawanaMogojojo, Molapowaboja and Mosopa Sub Kgomokasitwa.
Currently available water sources for Lobatse and surrounding areas are Gaborone Waterworks - Gaborone Dam, Molatedi Dam and NSC Trunk Main, and Siga Well field, providing 78 percent of the average daily supply. Currently Nnywane Dam provides five percent, and the balance of 17 percent is from 44 boreholes serving as sole water supply source to each or several localities.
The current daily water demand for the Service Centre is 22,000m3/ day against an average supply of 15,600m3/ day resulting in a deficit of 6,400m3/ day. “All localities have water shortages except for seven villages with dedicated borehole sources”. It is highly expected that constant supply of potable water to these areas will come with great benefits such as the economic stimulation in Lobatse and Rolong areas.
It is also believed that the project will unlock other investments as some developments have been delayed because of insufficient water supply in the area. Availability of adequate water to existing and new customers at the currently unserviced areas will encourage owners of residential, industrial and commercial plots in the areas to start developing hence increasing exports and reducing importation of goods.
It will also create employment as it is hoped that during the construction phase, the locals will be employed to carry out the activities that require non- skilled to semi- skilled labour.