Solution needed for water woes

WATERR 12Fortious Nhambura Senior Features Writer
Nyasha Mudzimu of Greendale, Harare, staggers as he carries a 30-litre water container to his twin cab truck. Still clad in his work clothes – a suit and tie – Mudzimu first has to pass though a friend’s place in the city’s Avenues area, fill up the container with water before driving home. He has been doing this for years and does not see his problem ending anytime soon. It’s a problem they have been living with.

Greendale is one of the many suburbs in Harare without tap water for many years. Many suburbs, particularly in the northern parts of the city among them Highlands, Mt Pleasant, Newlands, Mandara and Mabvuku, have either received supplies once a fortnight or never.

The reason: Harare water is failing to cope with the rising demand of water due to an ailing supply and distribution network.

Shortage of funds and dwindling investment in the city’s water supply and distribution has made accessing water availability in most suburbs a huge challenge.

Those who are not privileged to own private boreholes have been forced to part with US$300 extra to purchase a month’s supply of bulk water. The figure is likely to go up following Zinwa’s move to ban bulk water extraction in residential areas.

Residents say they are prepared to pay more for water.

Walter Sithole of Mandara says continued reliance on bulk water suppliers is expensive.

“We want a constant water supply and we will pay for it. I am sure council tap water won’t be as expensive as getting it from bulk water suppliers. As more boreholes are drying up a clear sign of over extraction of underground water, the prices are likely to continue rising.

“It is clear the level of abstraction has surpassed the level of the replenishing of the underground water aquifer and those who can still supply the water are now cashing on the shortage. Zinwa’s move to ban bulk water extraction in the residential areas has put us in more trouble,” Mr Sithole said.

Mrs Alberta Jiri of Mt Pleasant said: “I understand the provision of water is a function of the local authority hence it is their responsibility to provide residents with water. We want water from the taps not from bowsers. What guarantee is there that the water is clean and will not have effects on the health of consumers in the long run?

“Borehole water must be a luxury and not a necessity in the city. Why can’t the city authorities engage the private sector in financing the rehabilitation and expansion of Harare’s water infrastructure,” she asked.

A 20-litre bucket of water is being sold for between US$1 and US$2. She said the city can no longer cope with service hence the need to involve other players.

Development analysts concurred saying the time has come for Harare to involve the private sector in both the supply and distribution water.

This, they said would ensure that water reaches residential areas.

They said it was unfortunate that Harare has continued to ignore the private sector in water distribution and supply when residents are suffering and being creamed of their monies by bulk water suppliers on a daily basis.

Environment Design and Planning expert Dr Sasha Jogi believes there is a lot of potential for private sector involvement in both water supply and distribution in Harare particularly in areas that have been starved of reliable supplies.

He said it was time the city authorities bring in the private sector in helping revamping water distribution so that the little that is available reaches the residents.

According to council, 40 percent of Harare’s purified water is being lost along the distribution channel due to aging infrastructure.

“We have affluent suburbs with residents that have the means and aptitude to pay for water and this should be the starting area.

“These people feel they can’t continue buying water from private players. There is an opportunity for the private sector in both supply and distribution. The assumption is that we have some water for distribution but it is not reaching the people. Private companies will revamp the entire distribution network to ensure all the water pumped into an area reaches the consumer and is billed.

“If you want to be assured you have to put meters so that you know those that are getting water. You will need an agreement with residents through the council to say within six months they will get water. Their rates are then payable as soon as that water is available.”

Dr Jogi said it was easy to divide the city into quadrants and segments and ensure private companies concentrate on fixing water distribution in that area.

“The city is expanding very fast and council can no longer go it alone. If council is to provide adequate water it has to include other people. The private sector as a stakeholder is saying involve us but the management is refusing.

“Unfortunately, the city does not have the money, infrastructure and management structures needed to do overhaul the water distribution system,” he said.

Dr Jogi said by simply replacing the aging water pipes, Harare could avail all the water it is losing along the distribution path.

“Yes, we have a deficit but let us start by utilising what we have. Council has no money for such projects,” he said.

Zimbabwe Institute of Regional and Urban Planning President Mr Percy Toriro said though it was important that all stakeholders were involved in the provision of water, the sector was, however, a sensitive and strategic area where stakeholders must be carefully managed so that water is not commoditised and remains available and affordable even to vulnerable people.

“The private sector involvement should be very long term because if the motive is short term realisation of returns can push costs beyond the majority,” he said.

Mr Toriro said use of borehole water was unsustainable.

“We have started to feel the impact of over-extraction of ground water: Many boreholes in the Mabelreign area that never used to dry up have no water because the water table has generally fallen.

“Besides, there are quality control issues to do with boreholes. They can be contaminated without owners knowing thereby exposing residents to health risks.

“The simplest eventuality of unsustainable water abstraction is the continued fall of the water table. Many boreholes will dry up,” added.

Harare is currently producing only 450 megalitres per day against a demand of over 1 200 and the figure is likely to go up as its population continues to grow. But, the Harare Director of Water Engineer Christopher Zvobgo thinks otherwise. He said the problem lies not in the distribution but supply.

Eng Zvobgo said: “It is in supply that we desperately need investment. We are open to Private Public Partnerships but this has to cascade from the national level.

“Entry by the private sector into water distribution is not the solution because we have no problem there.

“What we want are concentrated efforts to deal with the supply side because the amount of water we are producing cannot meet demand.

“Getting an investor to do water from Warren Control station to the residential areas is not a solution because we don’t have enough to give our residents,” he said.

Current efforts to improve water supply will only see an additional 100 megalitres per day by the end of December and a further 100 megalitres early next year bringing the total supply to 650 megalitres.

“We are aware that we have a lot of non-revenue water (water lost through leakages and bursts pipes) and pressure reducing valve will be installed to ensure we minimise pipe bursts. Our pipes are old and it is necessary for us to reduce the pressure of the water if we are to reduce these physical loses.

“Yes, we still remain with commercial loses but those will be attended to at their own level. The second phase of the African Development Bank starting next year will see some 50km of bulk water pipes being replaced, and these are the worst areas. The council has also set aside 25 percent of water revenue for pipe replacement he added.

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey