Water restrictions introduced in Kweneng

Residents in Molepolole and Thamaga expressed their concerns to Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) leadership as to the continued water shortage problem in the area, leading to the corporation introducing water restrictions in the Kweneng area.

Addressing the residents on Monday, Water Utilities Chief Executive, Mmetla Masire said the water demand in the area is 18 155 cubic meters per day but the corporation can only supply 9.109 cubic meters.  “Because of the huge gap in supply and demand of water supply in Kweneng area, we are forced to do water restrictions as a way to solve the problem,” he said.

He said these restrictions were effected as of Monday.  The restrictions prohibit the use of portable water for construction purposes and watering of all gardens and parks using portable water and other cleaning and gardening activities.

Raising a concern, Sebele councillor Poloko Motlhobogwa said the corporation should at least have a proper plan when rationing water because other areas in Molepolole can go up to two weeks without water.

Elisabeth Sedimo, Nnile Primary School Head Teacher pleaded with the corporation to consider the school as a priority because students are suffering. “Re a boga tota golo kwana. A ko le se ikakanyetseng lele nosi, bana ba rona ba tla swa ke tlala le lenyora.  As I am speaking the school can go for weeks without water, but in water utilities departments there is water while our children are suffering and starving,” said Sedimo

Joseph Tshireletso said they have a problem with WUC because it does not react to problems on time. “Pipes are always leaking and I am always calling you. If I can take you to the leaking pipes right now you are going to find over 100 pipes burst just in this area. I am wondering what is your job. The amount of water lost in that area is enough to supply Thamaga alone for three months,” said Tshireletso.

He requested that more people should be employed to attend to the faulty pipes. “They only have four people attending these pipes and only one person operating the excavator. Get more people to address this problem,” he said.

Molepolole cluster which consists of Molepolole, Thamaga and Thebephatshwa BDF Air Base is supplied with underground water from four well fields.  Masire said there is 39 percent deficit in water supply and this is increasing because others in the network experience losses of 18 percent 2027 cubic meters and this increases the deficit to 57 percent of the supply which is achieved by operating only Gaotlhobogwe and Suping Boreholes at 24 hours per day.

WUC, Water Works Engineer, Seabe Mabua said they are trying their best to provide water tanks in schools and other affected areas. “We are currently looking for the wells we can use so that we can source water to supply schools and clinics. We have master plans the problem is lack of funds,” he said.

Mabua added that they have been working with the Ministry of Education to see which schools are mostly affected. They are also currently replacing old pipes which keep on breaking. Mabua said the current challenges include the frequent power outages in the well field especially during rainy seasons.

“We do no not have power backup, so we are always affected by BPC power cuts. The standby generator has been installed at the plant but there are no generators at the 24 boreholes supplying Molepolole, Thamaga and Thebephatshwa,” said Mabua.