WUC ready to deliver on billions spent on water supply projects

Botswana's sole potable water supplier, Water Utilities Corporation (WUC), is on the verge of achieving a significant milestone by completing multiple projects worth billions of Pula, which will help alleviate the nation's water scarcity.

Among these noteworthy projects is the expansion of the state-of-the-art Mmamashia Water Treatment Plant (MWTP), the largest of its kind on the African continent, designed to treat 220 million litres per day. This project, executed by Khato Civils and Zambezi, was awarded a tender worth P1,024,066,169.65.

In November 2020, WUC engaged the Joint Venture to design, supply, install, construct, and commission the plant within 36 months, doubling the capacity of the existing 110 million litres per day tank. This initiative is part of a broader mandate from the government, through the Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs, for WUC to implement major water projects under the National Development Plan (NDP11).

The goal is to build sustainable, efficient, and reliable water infrastructure that is resilient to drought, thereby enhancing water supply across the country.

In an interview, WUC Chief Executive Officer Gaselemogwe Senai shared that the Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs, through WUC, has provided a summary of projects under Emergency Projects, including the Masama 100km. Senai highlighted that the Masama-Mmamashia 100km Long Transmission Pipeline and Associated Works from Masama Wellfield to Mmamashia Water Treatment Plant Project was completed in September 2021.

This project involved designing, supplying, installing, constructing, and commissioning a pipeline of approximately 100km in length from Masama Wellfield to Mmamashia Water Treatment Plant.

The pipeline currently conveys water from Masama Wellfields to Mmamashia Water Treatment Plant, enhancing the water supply to the Greater Gaborone area, which serves an estimated population of about 700,000.

Identified as part of a conjunctive water supply scheme, this project aims to meet water demands during the unavailability of the NSC Water Supply System and address water deficits in stressed areas such as Gaborone, Mochudi, Molepolole, Thamaga, Moshupa, Kanye, Rolong, and Ramotswa.

As a result, the legacy water deficit in the Greater Gaborone area has been reduced from 30 percent to 15 percent.

Senai also mentioned that the NDP 11 Water Supply Project introduced the North-South Carrier (NSC 2.2) contracts 1, 2, and 3. The NSC 2.2 Project includes the implementation of a 253 km long raw water transfer scheme from Dikgatlhong and Letsibogo dams in north-eastern Botswana to the Greater Gaborone area, with key offtakes to the Palapye Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and the Mahalapye WTP en route.

This project will convey raw water to improve the capacity and efficiency of water supply to Radisele Cluster Villages, Tswapong South Cluster Villages, Greater Mahalapye, Dibete Cluster Villages, Mochudi Cluster Villages, Greater Gaborone, Molepolole Cluster Villages, Kanye Cluster Villages, Greater Lobatse, and Rolong Cluster Villages up to the year 2041.

Senai stated that the project will further ensure a sufficient supply of surface water to the southern parts of Botswana, where water demand has significantly increased over time, surpassing the capacity of existing water resources.

He explained that the first phase of the NSC 2 Project, known as NSC 2A (Dikgatlhong Dam to Moralane Pipeline), was completed in 2013, while NSC 2.1 from Moralane to Palapye - SR2B was completed in 2016.

Senai mentioned that NSC 2.2 is the second phase of the NSC 2 Project and has reached practical completion as of July 2024. The third phase, NSC 2.3, is intended to transfer water from Mmamashia WTW to Greater Gaborone. For technical and economic reasons, the NSC 2.2 Project was implemented in three contracts: Contract 1, Contract 2, and Contract 3.

The NSC 2.3 Project, also implemented in three contracts, has been completed and is awaiting the completion of the NSC 2.2 and Mmamashia WTP projects to undergo testing and commissioning.

The NSC 2 project, comprising NSC 2.2 and NSC 2.3, includes several key milestones, such as the construction of a massive 92ML reservoir at Forest Hill, the second-largest tank in Southern Africa, and one of the region's largest water treatment plants with a capacity of 220ML/d, which is the centrepiece of the WUC Centre of Excellence.

Senai highlighted that the Lobatse Water Master Plan Packages 1 and 2 benefit areas along the Gaborone-Lobatse corridor, including Mmokolodi, Crocodile Pools, Lion Park, Sentlhane, Ramotswa, Otse Police, Mogobane, Seuwane, Ntlhantlhe, Lekgolobotlo, and Magotlhwane.

Further down the corridor, villages in the Goodhope Sub-District area, such as Goodhope-Pitsane Siding, Digawana-Mogojojo, Molapowaboja, and Mosopa Sub Kgomokasitwa, will also benefit from this scheme.

Senai noted, "The project is completed and, like NSC 2.3, has been awaiting NSC 2.2 for testing and commissioning."

Additionally, the Goodhope 32 Villages project, divided into contracts 1 and 2, aims to meet water demand in various villages. "The project is complete and is awaiting the NSC 2.2 water for testing, commissioning, and beneficial use," Senai highlighted, adding that the Lobatse Water Master Plan Packages 1 and 2 benefit areas along the Gaborone-Lobatse corridor, including Mmokolodi, Crocodile Pools, Lion Park, Sentlhane, Ramotswa,

Otse Police, Mogobane, Seuwane, Ntlhantlhe, Lekgolobotlo, and Magotlhwane. Further along the corridor, villages in the Goodhope Sub-District, such as Goodhope-Pitsane Siding, Digawana-Mogojojo, Molapowaboja, and Mosopa Sub Kgomokasitwa, will also benefit from this scheme.

Senai noted, "The project is completed and, like NSC 2.3, has been awaiting NSC 2.2 for testing and commissioning."

Additionally, the Goodhope 32 Villages project, divided into contracts 1 and 2, aims to meet water demand in various villages. Contract 1 brings water to Mogwalale, Madingwane, Sheep Farm, Tswagare, Sekokwane, Mokgomane, Sedibeng, Mosi, Tswaaneng, and Metlobo.

Contract 2 addresses water demand in 21 villages, including Rakhuna, Ramatlabama, Papatlo, Borobadilepe, Hebron, Phihetswana, Ditlharapa, Mokatako, Phitshane-Molopo, Leporung, Dikhukhung, Mmakgori, Tshidilamolomo, Mabule, Ngwatsau, Matasalalo, Makokwe, Marojane, Logagane, Molete, and Sekhutlhane.

"The project is complete and is awaiting the NSC 2.2 water for testing, commissioning, and beneficial use," he said.

Regarding Tswapong South, which comprises 18 villages, Senai said the project aims to improve water supply to Tswapong South villages such as Machaneng, Borotsi, Chadibe, Sefhare, Ramokgonami, Tumasera, Seleka, Maape 1 and 2, Pilikwe, Mhalapitsa, Mokobeng, Ngwapa, Matlhako, Letloreng, Moshopha, and Shakwe. Connection to the Mahalapye Water Treatment Works will ensure adequate and sustainable water supply, with existing boreholes as backup.

Other projects include the Boteti Southern cluster, which is now 90 percent complete and aims to improve water supply and quality to the Southern and Central cluster villages of Mokoboxane, Kedia, Mopipi, Xhumo, Toromoja, Madikola, Rakops, and Xere, benefiting about 21,500 people.

The Palapye Water Treatment Plant expansion is also complete. This project designed, supplied, installed, constructed, and commissioned the plant in a cost-effective manner, increasing the water treatment capacity from 18MLD to 36MLD.

It will improve water supply in Mahalapye, the Tswapong South cluster, and the Shoshong, Mmutlane, Kalamare, and Bonwapitse clusters