Harare City boosts water supplies A Harare City worker examines one of the rusty pipes at Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant that will be replaced under the China EximBank US$144 million loan facility

A Harare City worker examines one of the rusty pipes at Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant that will be replaced under the China EximBank US$144 million loan facility

Herald Reporter
Harare City Council’s water treatment plant, Morton Jaffray, has increased water processing capacity by 72 megalitres following plant and equipment rehabilitation using part of the US$144 million loan from China EximBank.

The latest development has seen the city’s water treatment plant producing 522 megalitres of water up from 450.

The city’s water production now falls short of 162 megalitres and the complete rehabilitation of water treatment plants will enable the city to pump 650 megalitres per day by 2015.

Harare needs at least 1 200 megalitres for every household to have water 24/7.

Speaking during a tour of Mabvuku/Tafara to witness the improved water supply after renovations at Morton Jaffray, Harare water director Engineer Christopher Zvobgo said the city commissioned 72 megalitres last week to different parts of Harare.

He said this would see improved water supply to many parts of the city.

Eng Zvobgo said the improvements were also complemented by the reduction of water leakages which had improved by 50 percent megalitres per day.

“Water production has increased by 72 megalitres at Morton Jaffray. We are going to increase in phases the amount of water as we continue with the rehabilitation process. We hope by December 2015 we will be operating at full capa- city.” He said the city had replaced 4 000 old meters in different suburbs.

“Water supply to Mabvuku/Tafara and Hatcliffe has improved to four days per week from two days per week, Greendale water supply has improved from one to two days per week. Water supply to Dzivarasekwa and Budiriro is pumping at full capacity except for high areas.

“Bulk water flow measurement availability and pump reliability at Prince Edward improved by 100 percent,” he said. Mabvuku/Tafara residents said they were relieved to see water flowing in their taps.

“We used to stand in queues for long hours but since last week water is coming out from our taps,” said Mr Tongai Chinembiri, a Mabvuku resident.

“We hope the city will continue giving us water and not to be a campaigning weapon,” said another resident, Mr Tinashe Chivirira.

Harare City was producing at 450 megalitres per day and expects the production capacity to increase to 704 megalitres.

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