WUC still battling with supply challenges
Baboki Kayawe | Wednesday April 19, 2017 16:09
According to WUC chief executive officer, Mmetla Masire limited recharge rates over the years have exacerbated the situation, further aggravated by the deficient boreholes operational system.
Masire, who was addressing the press recently added, “over-abstraction of boreholes has resulted in the declining of groundwater levels, leading to the drying up of sources.”
“The limited precipitation over the years has resulted in low groundwater recharge jeopardising the sustainability and viability of groundwater resources countrywide.
This, coupled with deficiencies in the current operational system of many boreholes, which is inclined to over pumping or mining of the resource owing to an imbalance between supply and demand has resulted in aquifer deterioration and drying up of boreholes in many parts of the country,” he said.
Areas that continue to face water challenges according to the corporation are Greater Gaborone where proposed interventions include retaining water restrictions, and refurbishment of the Mmamashia plant.
Imposed at the height of the dry spell, the restrictions are as follow: watering of all gardens and parks and sports fields using potable water is prohibited, use of potable water for construction purposes is prohibited, except with the express written permission of the Corporation in cases where non-potable water has been proven to be detrimental to the quality of work, washing of vehicles with potable water using hose-pipes is prohibited, automatic urinals are prohibited and should all be terminated or retro-fitted within two months of the effective date of these restrictions, the filling of all swimming pools with potable water is prohibited, the spraying or washing of pavements, side-walks and streets with potable water is prohibited and all defective plumbing and pipe fittings which result in water wastage must be repaired within 24 hours of notice.
In Molepolole area, six boreholes are planned for at Malwelwe. In Macheng cluster- covering the areas of Sojwe, Lephephe, Shadishadi and Boatlaname, WUC intends to drill a replacement borehole and connect four existing ones.
“In Maun, proposed interventions include connection of two boreholes at Sexaxa and Shashe. Camera survey for 10 boreholes as part of Maun Phase II,” Masire explained.
Other listed challenging areas include Werda, Sefhare, Radisele, River Villages- (Mabalane, Malolwane, Sikwane, Ramonaka, Dikwididi, Mmathubudukwane), Bokaa, Kudumelapye, Xamasere and Zutshwa clusters.
The corporation appealed for prudent water management as the country battles with water losses.
“It is a known fact that we lose more water through public standpipes and institutions, as well as aged infrastructure. There is another growing phenomenon of vandalism and third party damage of infrastructure which also result in significant water losses,” he said.
WUC is looking forward to solve these problems through the P1.5 billion World Bank for the emergency water security and efficiency projects whose tendering process for phase one projects is anticipated this month.