BULAWAYO residents endured a dry Easter holiday due to the ongoing mechanical repairs at Fernhill Water Pump Station, which led to interruptions in water supply.
In a letter dated March 30, town clerk Christopher Dube announced water supply interruptions in all residential areas.
“The City of Bulawayo would like to advise members of the public of water supply interruptions to all areas in the city, except the industrial area and the central business district. This is due to the on-going repairs on the transformer at Fernhill pumping station scheduled for completion on Tuesday (today),” Dube said.
“Accordingly, this has resulted in reduced raw water pumping to the city, and caused a reduction in treated water production during the scheduled time. This will temporarily result in erratic supply within the 120-hour (rationing) schedule. Stabilisation in the 120-hour schedule will be expected after the reservoirs are fed and stabilised from Wednesday (tomorrow).”
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) secretary for administration Thembelani Dube bemoaned the unforeseen water supply interruptions which left residents scavenging for water.
“Bulawayo Metropolitan water shortages are perennial. This year, the challenges are aggravated by the El Niño-induced drought, which resulted in insignificant inflows into the six major dams supplying Bulawayo, over and above the inadequacy due to the dams not coping with the exponential growth of the city’s population since the supply dams were constructed,” the BPRA secretary for administration said.
“Naturally the water shortages due to the above factors coupled with unforeseen maintenance requirements affect holiday gatherings,” he added.
Meanwhile, government has availed US$15 million to Bulawayo City Council to improve water supplies.
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