Government through the Local Government and Housing has sourced a total amount of US$ 9 million for complete overhaul of the water reticulation system in Mansa and Kawambwa Districts of Luapula Province.
Luapula Water and Sewerage Company Managing Director Sebastian Chilekwa disclosed this to ZANIS in Mansa yesterday.
ZANIS reports that Mr Chilekwa said the US$ 9 million would be used for replacing old equipment at the two water works in Kawambwa and Mansa districts.
He stated that one of the major works to be carried out would include installation of new water filters and laying new pipes to replace old ones.
Mr Chilekwa disclosed that the current water system infrastructure had never been replaced since its inception in the 1970s.
He said this was why the company had been failing to meet customer demand, adding that the coverage for water supply currently stood at 12% while 88% of customers who formed the majority remained unserviced.
He also added that once the company successfully complete the US$9 million project, the water supply in Mansa and Kawambwa Districts would be sufficient to carter for all households in the two Districts in both urban and peri-urban areas.
Meanwhile, Mr Chilekwa said Government through the Local Government and Housing has also sourced K58 million to help the water company purchase an extra new high lift pump for the water plant.
The water plant has been functioning on only one high lift pump, which had been blown up due to an electrical fault, leaving the whole of Mansa without water for two days.
Mr Chilekwa said that the K58 million had already been released to the company and works to install the new pump would start soon.
He further disclosed that Luapula Water and Sewerage Company had been facing a lot of challenges ever since the water utility took over control from the Council in November, 2009.
He said the company lacked investment in new infrastructure and maintenance in the province adding that much of the water sanitation infrastructure was more than 30 years old except for Samfya District whose infrastructure was less than 10 years old following some investment under the former ZAMSIF.
ZANIS
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