Most of Harare’s middle and low-density suburbs will from tomorrow endure up to five days a week without water as the Harare City Council implements its rationing schedule. The cuts have been triggered by reduced water levels in the main sources supplying the city – Lake Chivero, and Harava andS eke dams.
Authorities will also reduce supplies to Chitungwiza from 27 to 15 mega litres daily, which will worsen the already dire water situation in the town.
The Sunday Mail gathered that the Harare City Council had come up with a water rationing schedule that prioritises supply to western high-density suburbs like Glen Norah, Willowvale, Budiriro, Kambuzuma, Dzivarasekwa, Glen View and Kuwadzana.
These areas have been sources of water-borne diseases, including a deadly cholera outbreak in 2007.
Acting Harare City water director Engineer Hosiah Chisango said rationing would run until the end of November, subject to review in December.
“Residential areas such as Mbare, Highfields and Ardbennie have been spared due to their proximity to the industrial area as well as the CBD,” he said.
“Thus, they will not experience total water cuts, but the water pressure will be reduced.
“Western suburbs will receive water supplies during the week and water supplies will be cut during the weekend.
“Northern suburbs will be most affected due to their distance from the source of water (Morton Jaffray).
“The schedule will be reviewed in December when the city hopes to receive significant rains.”
Eng Chisango said mobile tanks would service areas that will go more than three days without water.
According to the schedule, northern suburbs like Mabelreign, Marlborough, Mt Pleasant and Hatcliffe will only receive water on two days a week.
University of Zimbabwe Rural and Urban Planning lecturer Mr Nyasha Mutsindikwa said, “There is need to increase the number of water bodies that provide water to the city because currently the existing water infrastructure does not match the increasing population.
“Installation of water prepaid meters is also important in conserving the little water that we have as people will use the water sparingly fearing to exhaust their rations.”
Source-Sunday Mail
