By Correspondent
Lake Chivero, was constructed over two-and-a-half years and opened to the public in 1952 to cater for 200 000 people.
The water treatment plant, Morton Jaffray was also installed in the same years.
At maximum capacity, Morton Jaffray produces 750 megalitres per day against a demand of about 1400 mega litres a day.
However, Harare’s population has grown to an extent that there are around 4 million people a day including visitors.
As Lake Chivero is partly contaminated, the City uses between 8-10 chemicals costing USD$2-3 million a month to treat water.
Currently the Harare is producing 300 megalitres a day due partly to unavailability of enough chemicals.
The situation has been worsened by the state of equipment at Morton Jaffray.
It is old and experiences lots of breakdowns and intermittent power cuts.
To help improve the situation, the City is embarking on a move to pump more water from Manyame Dam to the treatment plant.
What has worsened the situation is that the City has stopped production at Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant as the sources of water for the plant – Harava and Seke Dams – have virtually dried up.
At Morton Jaffray, pumping of more water from Manyame will improve the water supply situation.
However, the long term solution will be for Government to complete construction of Kunzvi Dam as this will go a long way in alleviating the City’s water supply challenges.
(Additional Reporting From Harare City Council)
