Chibombo gets first-ever solar borehole

Wed, 17 May 2017 09:55:12 +0000

By LINDA SOKO TEMBO

THE Government has implemented a K1.2 million first ever solar-powered borehole project to improve water supply in Chibombo district. 

This is in response to erratic water supply which the people have been experiencing for a long time now.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily Nation, Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company Limited (LgWSC) public relations manager, Siwa Mwene, said Chibombo had grown with the Chibombo District Council opening up new areas for development.

“Because of  this growth, it entails the growth of population and the need for social amenities including adequate supply of water both in terms of hours of supply and accessibility,” she said.

Ms. Mwene said LgWSC was only able to give Chibombo district water for an average of five hours a day due to the effects of climate change, which have not spared the water sector.

“The water provider in the district was only able to pump water after power had been restored and needed time to build up levels”, she said.

She added that this forced the company to look for alternative energy sources to ensure that the district received adequate water supply even beyond the Service Level Guarantee of 22 hours a day.

“The commercial utility rose to the occasion, implementing the K1.2 million Chibombo Water Supply Improvement project funded by the Government which saw the first ever solar-powered borehole for drinking water purposes,” she said.

Ms. Mwene said the company was elated with the completion of the project which saw the drilling of two boreholes with one being a solar-powered borehole.

She said with the solar-powered borehole this entailed that water supply will be adequate for the people and even in times of load shedding people will still be able to enjoy the service.

She added that other works included the extension of a 2 kilometres water transmission line which will see the extension of water to the New Boma area, enabling people connect to the service line as well as rehabilitate an overhead tank to improve water storage.

“Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company Limited is optimistic that the solar borehole in Chibombo is just a start and funds permitting the project will be rolled out to other districts starting with smaller districts within the province,” she said.