Water tariffs to be increased

Imposed water restrictions in Gaborone and surrounding areas remain in force, Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) Chief Executive Officer, Mmetla Masire has said.

Giving an update on the water situation in the country, Masire stated that the public should know that the restrictions have not been suspended despite the recent downpours that filled most dams to capacity among them Gaborone Dam which has been struggling for years to even reach half of its capacity.

WUC imposed the water restrictions in Gaborone and surrounding areas after the Gaborone Dam failed. This resulted in the southern part of the country getting water from the north through the North-South Water Carrier. “Nothing has changed even though Gaborone Dam has been filled to capacity. Our consumers should know that the imposed restrictions are still in place. We are still facing challenges in availing water to other parts of the country,” he said.

Masire said the corporation cannot lift the restriction because it still faces challenges to take water to areas like Lobatse and Goodhope. He said WUC is also challenged by infrastructure as some of their pipelines are very old and they  leak. “The prolonged dry season had a major impact on groundwater sources. Some of the wells are beginning to show signs of failure hence the experienced shortage of water. Having good rains this year should not confuse people into thinking that the challenges faced by WUC are gone,” he said.

The CEO revealed that the corporation would this year increase the water tariffs.  He explained that the tariffs were supposed to have been increased last year. The increase, Masire said, would assist the corporation to recover operational costs.

According to Masire the WUC is currently operating at a loss. He stated that the increase would not affect the consumers that much as the corporation has cancelled the standard charge which it used to charge consumers whether one had used water or not.