Africa-Press – Botswana. Vandalism of the water pipeline along the Phuduhudu-Motopi, Mosu-Mokubilo transmission and the decline in borehole yields at Xhumo has exacerbated water supply deficit in the Boteti District.
Boteti District Council chairperson, Mr Molemi Galeragwe told a council session in Letlhakane on Monday that water demand in Letlhakane was not met especially at Phase One extension, Phase II extension and Tawana extension, indicating that it was due to population increase.
To mitigate the shortage, Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has an upcoming project to upgrade the existing booster pump station and the 160mm asbestos pipeline to 200mm PVC pipeline to feed the distribution tank, he said.
Mr Galeragwe stated that it would be a short-term measure whilst awaiting the long-term measure, being Chobe-Zambezi water transfer scheme project that would be undertaken under the National Development Plan 12.
He noted that the water supply challenge at Xhumo and Mopipi was envisaged to be addressed as a long-term measure by the Boteti Southern and Central Rural Water Supply Cluster villages’ project funded by the World Bank.
He said the project is at 65 per cent and was expected to be completed by May.
WUC recently drilled a replacement borehole in Xhumo village (BH 8003), which has improved water supply in the village.
The corporation also recently equipped BH 9631 as an in-house small project with the intention of blending the Mopipi water supply from the saline water sourced from BH 9068.
Mr Galeragwe further stated that an additional borehole would be drilled at Mokobaxane to augment water supply to Mopipi and a contractor was expected to undertake the works.
Meanwhile, the WUC Letlhakane Service Centre has engaged a private water tanker to bowse waster to Mopipi, and the excerise commenced on March 10.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
