Friday, September 22, 2023

Water rationing in greater Gaborone to stay

Water rationing in Greater Gaborone, an area running from Kgatleng to Borolong will not be lifted any time soon as the dam level of Gaborone dam is currently at only 15 percent.

This is according to the Water Utilities Corporation Public Relations Officer Matilda Mmipi.
The corporation, she explained is informed by a trigger levels they have in their dams on what demand strategy to put in place.

For example she said that level 1 restrictions are a way of life and apply all the time and aimed at bringing paradigm shift making Batswana a water wise nation which includes making people to adopt water conserving methods like watering in the morning or in the evening.

Level 2 which is implemented once dams reach 55 percent, she explained, forbids watering of gardens, and related activities.

Water rationing, she explained, comes into effect when the water level is at 35 percent. Water rationing is currently being maintained because Gaborone dam is currently at 15 percent and that it has been below 35 percent since mid 2013.

On what the situation is doing about the problem, she said that they are rehabilitating Ramotswa wellsfields in a bid to increase the water available to greater Gaborone. Besides that, she said that they are also working on completion of North-South water carrier from Dikgatlhong dam which she said currently stands at 78 kilometers.

Water shortage is reported to be very serious in villages like Kanye where residents allege that they at times go for weeks without water. There are complaints that the water levels at Gaborone dam are adversely affected by dams built by private farmers in their farms along the Notwane river which flows into Gaborone dam.

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