SIMBARASHE MTEMBO
MIRROR REPORTER

MASVINGO – Masvingo City Council lost 45.7% of its treated water in February this year alone and this has a value of US$432 714.
Councilors raised alarm over Non-Revenue Water (NRW) which they said is too high and they demanded solutions from management to reduce the water loss.
NRW is the difference between the amount of water produced by a water utility for consumption/use and the amount of water that is actually billed to consumers. NRW is lost through theft and faulty infrastructure as pipe leaks, bursts and non-functional meters.
The city recorded 88 pipe bursts during the same period.
The city supplies 30 million litres of water a day.
Councillors asked management to ensure that non-functional meters are replaced by ones that were procured by the local authority to avoid using estimates during billing.
“We cannot keep coming back to council to discuss water meters every time. We bought water meters and we still have some in stock. Residents with non-functional meters can make payment plans or we can just install the meters and bill the owner,” said Ward 10 Councillor Sengerai Manyanga.
Acting engineer Kudzai Mbetu told the meeting that NRW increases the more water supply improves.
“Water supply has improved and it comes with an increase in Non-Revenue Water as some of the treated water is lost before it even gets to residents through leakages and non-functional meters. Some pipes are old and this contributes to leakages. The department is bent on ensuring that NRW decreases,” he said.
Town Clerk, Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said the best practice for NRW in third world countries is 25%.
“Our NRW is within range considering that the best practice is 25%. It is impossible to achieve no NRW losses,” he said.