Dam levels dwindle

Source: Dam levels dwindle | The Herald August 4, 2016

Samantha Chigogo : Herald Correspondent

WATER levels in the country’s major dams are fast dwindling, raising fears they might fail to supply cities and towns until the next rainy season. Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) corporate communications manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga confirmed the development over the weekend.“Levels in most dams are dropping since the rainy season is now over and the dams are now having water drawn out of them without it being replenished,” she said.

“The national dam level average now stands at 50,3 percent.”

Mrs Munyonga said some cities were left with six months water supply.

“There is still adequate water for domestic water supply for cities such as Harare, Mutare, Chinhoyi while adequate water reserves for domestic use are being maintained in Mutirikwi Dam during releases of irrigation water to the Lowveld sugar estates,” she said.

“The situation for Bulawayo is critical as the city’s water supply dams are left with water enough to supply the town for six months.”

She said most dams in Runde catchment were below 50 percent full with Gozho dam leading at 55,1 percent.

Water levels are very low in Mutirikwi at 14,5 percent.

In Save catchment, Osborne and Siya dams are at 37,5 and 37,9 percent full, respectively.

Wenimbi, Odzani, Rusape and Roswa dams are above average.

Manyame and Gwayi catchments still command above average dam levels ranging between 50 and 90 percent full while a few dams like Blockley in Manyame catchment were below 30 percent. Some dams in Mazowe catchment are still above average with Nyambuya, Mwenje and Rufaro above 80 percent full while Kushinga-Phikelela, Mazowe and Nyakambiri are below 50 percent full.

In Mzingwane and Sanyati catchment areas, Chikomba, Mzingwane and Lower Ncema are some of the dams with falling water levels. Mrs Munyonga urged people extracting water from Zinwa-managed dams to do so legally.

“It is a requirement that anyone using water from a Zinwa managed dam should possess a water abstraction agreement. In terms of Section 118 of the Water Act, it is a criminal offence for one to use water without the necessary legal document,” she said.

“Users are also encouraged to pay their current and outstanding water bills for them to receive smooth and quality service.”