Brilliant Mukaro
MIRROR REPORTER

MASVINGO–Severe load shedding coupled with a mulfuctioning water system is giving Masvingo City Council headaches as the local authority struggles to supply water to residents, Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa has said.
Speaking during a residents engagement meeting organized by Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) at Civic Center recently, Mukaratirwa said council is studying the practicality of a solar plant at Bushmead Water Plant.
Power outages are affecting water pumping at Bushmead and residents in some areas are going for close to two weeks without water.
“We did a feasibility study and saw that solar system can be used as an alternative source to power at Bushmead. We are in phase two of the augmentation plan but we feel the solar project needs should be prioritized and we are mobilising funds,” said Mukaratirwa.
City Deputy Director of Engineering services Engineer Kudzaishe Mbetu said council is forced to supply water after 48 days to ensure that high lying areas also get water.
He said the city can only pump seven mega litres a day owing to power outages against a demand of 45 mega litres. The city has a 30 mega litres pumping capacity.
“We have the capacity to supply water for seven hours from 3 am to 10 am in residential areas and from around 3 am to 4 pm in the CBD if we have uninterrupted power supply. Now we are forced to stop supply for at least two days to ensure the tanks hold around 16 mega liters. This will ensure that water reaches high lying areas.
“If we supply water daily those living in high lying areas like Runyararo South West, Rujeko, Zimre Park and KMP will not get water. Only low lying areas like Majange and Mucheke Rank will receive water,” said Mbetu.
He also explained that Masvingo’s water network is 240 km and the velocity of the water from the tanks to the furthest suburb is at 1.5 meters per second and needs 2 hours and 45 minutes to reach high lying areas like Runyararo South-West, Rujeko, Zimre Park and KMP.
Some residents complained that they go for nearly two weeks without tap water but are receiving exorbitant water bills.