Water blues after pipe burst

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:11:32 +0000

Lusakawater and sewerage engineers are working under clock to resolve the current water crisis affecting many parts of the city arising from a major rapture pipeline fromKafue.

Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company public relations officer Topsy Sikalinda explained that engineers working on the problem were confident that normal supply in the city would resume very soon.

So far, he said, the company had taken some temporary measures to ensure continued although limited supply of water to the city.

“We have embarked on a temporal diversion from other sources to supply water to the affected areas to ensure that people access clean water” he said.

Many parts of the city are currently experiencing a critical water shortage forcing men, women and children to scout for water wherever it is available.

Among the Townships affected are Matero, Kalingalinga, Mtendere, George, Emmasdale and Kamwala where groups of women and children were seen walking around in search of water.

And some Matero residents were seen trooping to nearby heavy industrial area to fetch water where they were asked to pay K500 for a 20-litre container by the security guards manning premises where water could be found.

“The main Lusaka- Kafue pipeline has burst and this has caused the shortage in most parts of the city” he said.

He pointed out that areas like Emmasdale, Kamwala, Matero and many others in the capital city were affected and promised supply would be restored as soon as possible.

Rachael Phiri of Matero said she was forced to spend not less than K10, 000 a day in order to meet her water demands which included washing, cooking and other uses.