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Obert Chifamba Manicaland Bureau Chief
MUTARE City Council is losing over 60 percent of treated water to leakages and illegal connections, creating shortages in some suburbs, public relations officer Mr Spren Mutiwi revealed yesterday.

Mr Mutiwi said the authority was battling to replace ageing water infrastructure as well as curb vandalism of water valves and stop illegal connections that have seen it losing lots of treated water.

“We are losing water through physical causes such as ageing infrastructure, illegal connections and vandalism. If you walk around the streets of Mutare you will see numerous illegal car wash sites and people are just disabling water valves so that they get treated water flowing freely and using it without paying even a single cent,” said Mr Mutiwi.

He added that management at the council was working flat out to upgrade the ageing water infrastructure, procure more bulk metres to enhance correct recording of revenue water pumped out at the reservoirs and install pressure reducing valves to lessen incidences of pipe bursts.

“Soon, there will be campaigns against illegal connections and there will also be more efforts committed to dealing with the ball valves at Mutare’s water reservoirs that might no longer be working efficiently due to old age. What is disheartening is that all the water that is being lost to leaks and illegal connections is treated and expected to generate some revenue for the council but that is not happening now,” said Mr Mutiwi.

He said council would soon be turning to the geographical information system (GIS) it installed recently to identify trouble spots along the water networks and taking care of them, as a way of improving supplies to residents that are paying for the services.

Mutare City draws its water from Pungwe River, Odzani and Small Bridge Dams, a supply that is guaranteed until up to 2030. Consumption within the city is estimated at 40 mega litres per day.

The water is delivered through 450mm, 600mm and 700mm diameter pipelines and is adequate to meet daily water demands for the town.