By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
Masvingo – The continuous water shortages in the City of Masvingo has led the council to introduce water rationing which have seen the city being divided four respective zones.
The water shedding in terms of section 187 of the Urban Councils Act has been introduced effectively from the 11th of this month (today) in a bid to ensure equitable distribution of water for all.
Failure to pump water for the city has been due to the shortage of electricity at Bushmead water works as electricity is only available for six hours a day and this has made the council be able to only supply 7million litres per day.
The different zones will be supplied with water for only two days a week.
“Council has zoned the City into four water supply zones that will be supplied with water on two specific days a week. This will facilitate the supply of water to each zone twice a week.
“Zone A will receive water on Tuesdays and Saturdays while Zone B will receive water on Wednesdays and Sundays. Zone C will receive water on Mondays and Thursdays while Zone D will receive water daily as it comprises of the CBD, Industry and Hospital,” said the Masvingo City Councilor Collen Maboke.
Friday is going to be a reserve day that will be used to balance the water supply in cases of the failure to supply a zone.
Until the power supply situation is resolved, the water shedding exercise will remain.
“This water rationing exercise will remain until the power situation improves. I therefore advise the residents to take note of the supply days of their areas and plan for their water usage accordingly. I also strongly advise the residents to conserve water. Meanwhile the Council will periodically review the water shedding in response to any positive or negative developments,” he said.
The increasing population in the city has led to high demand of water as the daily water demand of the City is estimated at 45 million litres against the installed supply capacity of 30million litres per day.
