Chipata District commences feasibility study for a 2030 water system investment

FEASIBILITY studies for 2030 water system investments demand in Chipata District has commenced.

Gauff Engineering of Lusaka has since been given the contract to carryout the feasibility studies.

The contractor is expected to come up with a document with designs for water system in Chipata.

Eastern Water and Sewerage Company Lytone Kanowa said the designs would be used to source for funds from Government through National Urban Water and Sanitation basket from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.

Mr Kanowa said the feasibility were expected to be completed by June 2015 as the study has already commenced.

He said the provision of clean and safe drinking water does not come without a cost.

Mr Kanowa said it is for this reason that company would continue soliciting funds in order to improve the services.

The managing director said the utility company was focusing on the improvement of production through acquiring a new pump for Lutembwe Dam One and expansion of Lutembwe Dam Two at the cost of K9 million.

He said the procurement of the new pump was under way through emergency works for Chipata.

He said Plem Construction Company from Malawi had been given the responsibility of acquiring the pump.

Mr Kanowa said the expansion of dam two was at tender stage which would adding that the selected contractor would move on site.

The Managing Director said this was being done in order to ensure that there was enough water in the system so that more people access the commodity.

He has also appealed to customers to pay their water bills. He said that currently the company was being owed K8 million by both individual customers and Government departments.

He said the company has since engaged the Permanent Secretary’s office to see the best way of recovering the debt from Government departments.