Africa-Press – Botswana. Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) is said to be committed to finding an everlasting solution to the challenge of persistent water shortage in Kanye and surrounding villages.
The corporation’s General Head of Business Centre, Manager and Lead Engineer, Mr Olebile Matswiri said this while addressing Kanye District Councillors during a stakeholder engagement workshop recently.
He noted that as part of the interventions to alleviate some of its challenges WUC had undertaken Procurement of critical and long lead time spares for critical pump stations and pipelines.
Mr Matswiri indicated that after a number of interventions were put in place, the water supply situation has improved and stabilise even further over time.
“We are working to ensure reconfiguration of chamber covers to curb vandalism of air valves and scour valves, with the view to fast-track restoration, and have borehole repairs outsourced to external constructors,” he said.
He appraised that the water supply shortage in Kanye was made worse by the multiple power outrages that were experienced at wellfields and pump stations over the month of January.
“These power outrages have also resulted in the damage to electrical equipment. Lotlhakane East and Mmathethe water supply challenges have also been aggravated due to power supply interruptions at the wellfields and inconsistent power supply at Ramonnedi pump station,” he said.
Mr Matswiri disclosed that Kanye is supplied from the North South Carrier and Kgwakgwe Selokolela and Dilokwana wellfields.
He indicated that some of the interventions within Kanye includes the restoration of the two boreholes at Selokolela and the others at Kgwakgwe which are currently down due to electrical faults.
Mr Matswiri cited multiple power interruptions and vandalism of water supply equipment as major contributory factors to the water supply disruptions.
Mr Matswiri further shared that, so far they have reinforced security provisions at Masama through the use of private security on vehicles and horse back to patrol the wellfields at night.
Meanwhile, Mr Matswiri has advised that construction of a sanitation scheme for the village which was undertaken by Estate Construction to the tune of P707 million was complete and that residents could now register to connect their sanitation pipes, as government was preparing for its commissioning.
He advised councillors to encourage the residents and business community to do so as it is currently done for free of charge.
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