WATER supplies around Harare

WATER supplies around Harare, Chitungwiza and Norton town are set to improve after a subsidiary of power utility Zesa won a tender to refurbish the Morton Jaffray Waterworks.

The quality of water is also set to improve amid revelations that the refurbishment of the plant by Zent was now 80 percent complete.

Harare Town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi said more water would be supplied to Greater Harare once the exercise was completed.

“The refurbishment that we have will see more water being supplied to most parts of Harare which were experiencing water shortage.

“We had neglected this plant for a very long time but we are now solving the water supply problem in Harare where we are now pumping 680 megalitres of water from 330 megalitres, which is quite enough.”

The scope of the tender, won in September 2009, includes the rehabilitation of three clarifiers of stage 4,5 and 6.

The Director of Water, Engineer Christopher Zvobgo, said: “The refurbishment of the waterworks is now 80 percent complete. It will increase the production of water around the city, thereby addressing the water problems.

“The clarifiers are the ones which receive raw water and ensure that all the particles settle. Most of them have been repaired.”

He said Zent pumped out all water and sludge from the clarifiers, cleaned the clarifier and removed all the old alternating current (AC) troughs and stabilisers.

Joint sealing was also done to ensure that water consumers get reliable and clean supplies.

Prior to the refurbishment of the waterworks, consumers in Harare were not getting quality water due to the malfunctioning and ageing infrastructure.

The Morton Jaffray plant supplies water to an estimated 2,5 million residents in Harare and is currently operating at 40 percent capacity.

After the completion of the rehabilitation plant, 614 megalitres of water per day will be generated.

Meanwhile, council has procured new sets of traffic lights to be installed at 17 intersections in the city.

“We have procured more traffic lights worth US$500 000 for 17 intersections within the central business district.”

“Three containers with the traffic lights have been cleared already and installation will start next week,” said Dr Mahachi.