Rehabilitation of boreholes behind schedule
Maranyane Ngwanaamotho | Wednesday December 4, 2013 15:55
In an interview with Mmegi yesterday, the corporate communications manager of Water Utilities Corporation (WUC), Matida Mmipi, said there had been a delay.
“The possibility of a delay is always there,” she said.
“We have had a delay, but I can assure you that it will not be for a prolonged period.
We expect the project to be completed in a few weeks.”
WUC recently embarked on a project to rehabilitate four of nine boreholes in Ramotswa to draw water that will be blended with that in Gaborone Dam for distribution in Greater Gaborone.
Gaborone Dam is currently at 13%, which translates into only three months’ supply without recharge, hence the imposition of water rationing by WUC.
Greater Gaborone continues to rely heavily on the North-South Carrier pipe.
However, the pipe has had frequent breakdowns in the past that Mmipi blames on vandalism, leaving the region dry for days.
The pipe is currently running well. Mmipi noted that with water rationing, WUC was meeting demand.
Should Gaborone Dam dry out, the region will rely on Ramotswa and Mahalapye boreholes, South Africa’s Molatedi Dam and the North-South Water Carrier pipe.
Mmipi said current showers were not having any impact on dam levels.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has denied knowledge of any increased cases of diarrhoea in Gaborone and surrounding areas.
“We do not know of any outbreak or increased cases of diarrhoea,” said the ministry’s assistant public relations officer, Wada Motsamai.
People have blamed haphazard cases of diarrhoea in Greater Gaborone in recent weeks on suspected infusion of contaminated water into Gaborone Dam from aquifers in Ramotswa where the water table is relatively high and thus vulnerable to defilement from pit latrines and other pollutants.