Potable water supply distruption

Bulawayo is grappling with a severe water supply crisis due to continuous disruptions in power supply at key pumping stations and treatment facilities.
Besides the traditional water shortage story, the scourge of power outages has in recent weeks worsened residents plight.
The City of Bulawayo, in a statement issued on 19 0ctober, outlined how power outages and maintenance issues between October 12 and October 19 crippled the city’s ability to supply water.
“On Sunday, October 12, 2024, Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) power interruptions at Ncema and Fernhill, lasting from 5:30 am to 7:00 pm, led to a halt in raw water pumping to the city, compromising reservoir levels. These interruptions were a result of load shedding that further weakened the city’s already limited water supply system.”
“Additionally, on Tuesday, October 15, planned ZETDC maintenance from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm again impacted power supply to Ncema, halting water treatment operations at the Criterion Works. As a result, reservoirs could not be replenished, exacerbating the supply shortages,” read the statement.
The situation, read the statement, worsened on Thursday, October 17, when a transformer fault caused a total power outage at Criterion from 1:30 am and at Ncema and Fernhill from 2:15 am Power was only restored in the late afternoon, further disrupting water pumping operations.
The city has said the cumulative effect of the disruptions has created significant system imbalances, with water supply being restored sporadically. The city, which depends on limited water availability from the dams, has struggled to maintain adequate supply levels. Residents have experienced erratic water deliveries, and many areas have faced prolonged dry spells.
Some suburbs have gone for months without running tap water.
To mitigate the impact, the city has deployed two bowsers prioritising critical needs, including funerals, clinics, and kiosks. However, the current fleet is insufficient to meet the growing demand, with the city awaiting approval for additional bowser procurement to expand its capacity.
The City of Bulawayo, through Town Clerk Christopher Dube, reiterated that while residents were informed of potential disruptions, the extent of the water shortages was exacerbated by the continued ZETDC power supply issues.