The City of Bulawayo Councillors at its Council meeting of Wednesday, 4th April 2017 has approved the upward review of the water rationing limits following the heavy rains which have been received in the 2016- 2017 rainy season.
While the rationing limits will be loosened, the restrictions will remain in force as the current water supply system cannot manage to meet the unrestricted demand.
The proposed water rationing scheme for all water consumers will be as follows:-
| Category of users | Present water rationing allocation 2014 | Increase in allocation | new allocation 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Density Houses | 500 litres/day | 100 litres/day | 600 litres/day |
| Low Density Houses | 750 Litres/day | 150 Litres/day | 900 Litres/day |
| Cottages, servants Quarters | |||
| All residential Flats with bulk meters | 75% of average water period ending March 2014 | 15% Increase on present 75% | 90% of average water period ending March 2014 |
| All residential Flats with individual meters | 450 litres/day | 50 litres/day | 500 litres/day/meter |
| Multipurpose buildings with bulk meters | 75% of average water six months period ending April 2014 | 15% Increase on present 75% | 90% of average water period ending March 2014 |
| Hotels | 100% of average water six months period ending April 2014 | 15% Increase | 115% of average water period ending March 2014 |
| Hospitals and Clinics | 100% of average water six months period ending April 2014 | 15% Increase | 115% of average water period ending March 2014 |
| Industrial Consumers | 95% of average water six months period ending April 2014 | 15% Increase | 1 litre/m2/day |
| Hospitals and Clinics | 100% of average water six months period ending April 2014 | 15% Increase | 115% of average water period ending March 2014 |
| Industrial Consumers | 95% of average water six months period ending April 2014 | 15% Increase | 1 litre/m2/day |
| Water based industries | 100% of average water six months period ending April 2014 | 15% Increase | 115% of average water period ending March 2014 |
| Restuarants | 100% of average water six months period ending April 2014 | 15% Increase | 115% of average water period ending March 2014 |
| Commercial consumers, schools, churches, institutions, sports clubs etc | 100% of average water six months period ending April 2014 | 15% Increase | 115% of average water period ending March 2014 |
| Peri urban Esigodini, Matopos, LIewellyn barracks, Sigola and Duncan villages | 80% of average water six months period ending March 2014 | 100% Increase on present 80% | 100% of average water period ending March 2014 |
| Mzinyathini Irrigation Scheme | 80% of entitlement (for domestic consumption only) for the six months period ending March 2014 | 10% decrease on present 80% | 80% of entitlement (for domestic consumption only) for the six months period ending March 2014 |
| New water Connections | Connections to vacant stands and outside areas remains suspended | 600 litres/day |
Surcharges will be imposed for all excess consumption per kilolitre or part thereof as follows:
a) Non domestic peri-urban - Four times the normal water tariff for non-domestic peri urban
b) Non domestic –Urban - Four times the normal water tariff for non-domestic urban
The new band structure for low density would be as follows:-
For high density areas the bands would be as shown below:-
Consumers are urged to monitor their water consumption daily by reading their meters. This would help detect any unnecessary loss of water.
The following restrictions remain in force as per current scenario:
The current ban on use of hose pipes use for gardening is temporarily suspended with this proposed water rationing scheme.
Construction with potable water remains prohibited. Consumers are urged to use boreholes and reclaimed water for non-potable uses.
ADVERT NO : 5743
DATE : Sunday, 9 April 2017
C. DUBE TOWN CLERK
