Sinokubonga Nkala
Raymond Jaravaza, [email protected]
AS Bulawayo residents endure a gruelling 170-hour water-shedding schedule due to dwindling dam levels amid an El Niño-induced drought, a suspected water leak at the Criterion Water Works in Burnside suburb has been wasting vast quantities of water for over a year.
Residents of Burnside accuse Bulawayo City Council (BCC) of failing to address the persistent leak, which has turned into a lucrative opportunity for some individuals and companies.
Construction firms and residents from Burnside and Douglasdale are reportedly capitalising on the situation, with some selling the leaked water to farmers.
Chronicle crews observed private water bowsers collecting water from a stream formed by the leak yesterday.
One bowser, emblazoned with the name of a local bulk water supplier, had a capacity of 10 000 litres. Another belonged to a construction company that builds low-cost homes in suburbs such as Pelandaba West and Mbundane.
A driver of one of the bowsers revealed that the collected water is sold to peri-urban farmers in areas like Kensington and Douglasdale, whose boreholes have dried up due to the drought.
“The farmers use the water for their cattle and farming activities. As long as it’s not contaminated by sewage, it’s suitable for livestock,” he said.
He also mentioned that chicken breeders, who manage thousands of birds, rely on this bulk water for their operations but declined to disclose the price for a 10 000-litre tank.
In addition to commercial use, the leaked water is being utilised by residents.
The news crew observed three young girls fetching water from the stream.
“Our home is far from here, but we come twice a day to collect water for drinking and cooking. Our mother boils it before storing it in 5-litre bottles,” one of the girls explained.
However, it was unclear whether the water was treated or raw, raising concerns about its safety.
The BCC’s communications department had not responded to inquiries by the time of publication.
The continued wastage of water comes at a time when residents are grappling with severe shortages, with many resorting to unsafe sources for their daily needs. The city’s water supply has been under strain for years due to factors such as population growth, climate change, and poor resource management.
In September, the Upper Ncema Dam was decommissioned after reaching a critical level of 2,08 percent.
It was the second dam to be shut down following the decommissioning of the Umzingwane Dam in November 2023.
A recent survey revealed that residents in suburbs like Old Lobengula have been using water from leaking pipes for drinking and household chores.
Ms Mulape Mbela, a mother of two, expressed her frustration.
“We haven’t had tap water for almost a month. We are forced to fetch water from a burst pipe, even though it poses health risks. Boiling water is difficult because of frequent power cuts, so most people use it without taking precautions,” she said.
Mr Ricky Mafu voiced fears of a potential cholera outbreak, noting that residents often use unclean containers to fetch water from communal boreholes.
“Many people bring dirty buckets to collect water, and this compromises the safety of a shared resource,” he said.
Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association (BPRA) executive director, Mrs Permanent Ngoma, said some suburbs have gone for weeks without running water.
“The decommissioning of dams further exacerbates the water availability challenge.
The situation is really bad as some areas go up to three weeks without tap water. We have engaged the council to frequently provide water bowsers,” she said.
According to a recent council report, the decommissioning of Upper Ncema in September and Lower Ncema in November has reduced the daily water abstraction capacity to 93 megalitres, sourced from Insiza, Inyankuni, Mtshabezi, and Nyamandlovu dams.
As the rainy season approaches in December, stringent measures are required, including a 170-hour water-shedding schedule.
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