By SYLVESTER MWALE –
LUSAKA has been hit by water shortages with some parts completely running dry, while residents in townships have been forced to wake up earlier than normal to line up for the commodity in community kiosks.
Some schools have been forced to reduce class time for pupils due to intermittent water supply by the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC).
LWSC says the erratic water supply had been instigated by increased power outages which had made it difficult for the water utility firm to pump the commodity from the Kafue River.
A random check by the Sunday Times during the week revealed that residents of Matero, Kanyama, Chungu, Chainda as well as some parts of central business district have been experiencing erratic water supply for weeks now.
“It has been difficult for about two months now, we have been struggling to get water, and we have to wake up at 04:00 hours to line up at kiosks where the pressure is equally low,” said Elina Chanda, a resident of Kanyama Township.
The dry season is always associated with increased demand for water in Lusaka and the recent Zesco power outages have worsened the situation.
The normal water production by the LWSC is 258 million litres per day against the required 370 million litres, while the dry season has further raised the demand to 400 million daily.
LWSC public relations manager Topsy Sikalinda said power cut in Kafue during the week had meant that the utility firm could not pump the water from the river to Lusaka.
The water is first pumped into Chilanga before being pushed to Libala where it is driven to distribution centres on its course to house taps.
“However, if there is a power outage at any of these distribution centres, then it means that areas that gets water from that specific distribution centre will have no water,” Mr Sikalinda said.
“I think it is also important to realise that being a dry season the demand has increased to 400 million litres per day from the normal 370 million litres.”
Apart from Kafue River which is 65 kilometres away, Lusaka is being supplied by more than 120 boreholes dotted around the capital city.
However, the boreholes have been affected by low water tables.
Mr Sikalinda said the utility firm needed US$4 million to address the water and sanitation problem in the capital city.
The United States (US) has provided US$355 million through the Millennium Challenge Corporation in a bid to help resolve the water problems in Lusaka.
“Apart from that, the Government is currently negotiating with cooperating partners to finance the construction of a new water treatment plant in Kafue,” Mr Sikalinda said.
The project would see the construction of a 65-kilometre water pipe from the Kafue River to Lusaka to supplement the current water line.