LWSC EXPLAINS WATER SHUTDOWN

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 12:45:25 +0000

 By Chikumbi Katebe

IT is not the whole Lusaka district that will be affected with water supply disruptions, since some areas are received supply from underground boreholes, Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company public relations officer Nshamba Muzungu has said.

Mr Muzungu said about 60 percent of Lusaka water comes from underground sources from a number of boreholes doted around the capital city.

He said the anticipated LWSC shutdown of the main pumps at the Kafue River could not affect the entire Lusaka as some parts were independently supplied by boreholes.

He explained that the company was providing a duo water supply system with surface water delivered from the Kafue system and borehole supplies from the underground source.

“In terms of our supply we have a duo supply system were we supply water from the surface sources from Kafue, Chongwe River and Luangwa rivers and we also supply from ground sources and these are boreholes.

“Now in this situation where we have the shutdown coming, there are areas which will not be affected because they get their supply from the ground sources,” he said.

He mentioned the areas such as Mass Media area, Ngombe compound, Bauleni and parts of George Compound as well as Jack Compound which were not serviced by the Kafue river supply line, but that some other areas were on duo supply and would partially be affected by the shutdown..

He said it was only the areas which were supplied by the Kafue transmission lines which would be affected by the shutdown.

Meanwhile, traders have taken advantage of the eminent shutdown to hike prices of storage containers to make some extra cash during the five days.

Some traders talked to at City Centre Market indicated that there was a slight increase in demand of 1000litres containers as with the 20 litres containers with residents preparing for the water shutdown.

Charles Chirwa, a shop owner at the market explained that some business houses like restaurants, bars and night clubs have stoked up extra water storage containers to avoid affecting their businesses.

“We have many people asking for drums and even 20 litres containers obviously with the switching off of Lusaka water supply in Lusaka.

“At least we have seen some build-up of customers, and I know for instance that some traders are cashing in a bit more extra because of that,” Mr Chirwa said.