“The low revenue inflows have forced the Harare Water Department to scale down projects including Firle Sewage Works rehabilitation, Dzivarasekwa pump station and several sewage pipe replacement projects,” Town Clerk, Tendai Mahachi said while presenting a monthly utilities report to council last week.
Mahachi said the work, which was to be completed by the end of last month, was postponed to May.
“Civil works and fittings at Dzivarasekwa Pump Station are complete. Mechanical and electrical installations are almost complete,” he said. “The rehabilitation of sewage treatment works is in progress with the current treatment capacity now 100 mega litres per day.”
Mahachi said the drop in revenue collection had affected water production. He added that the city could supply about 80 percent of water for the population.
– Thabani Dube
“Plant breakdowns and high water losses are the cause of the water shortages,” he said. “Leakages can be addressed by procurement and installation of pressure reducing valves at a cost of $2 million. Replacing key sections of the distribution network would cost $14 million and this would provide 60 000 homes with water.”
Harare City Council is owed over $300 million, with the government its leading debtor.
Post published in: News