The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation has announced a decisive push of measures implemented in reducing water interruptions attributed to high turbidity in river sources during the rainy season that is affecting communities.
This is contained in a statement released to the media in Solwezi today, by the Ministry’s Principal Public Relations Officer Prince Chiyuni.
Mr Chiyuni said the move is meant to directly address the vulnerability of systems citing the Lufupa River Treatment Plant in Kasempa District where reliable supply of water to over 24,136 residents is threatened.
He said the government is working closely with key stakeholders to sensitise communities along the Dengwe River in Kasempa District to stop the contamination of water resources arising from illegal gold mining activities.
“The Dengwe River is an upstream tributary of the Lufupa River, which supplies raw water to the water treatment plant serving the entire district and operated by the North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited (NWWSSCL),
Over the past two dry seasons, the Lufupa River has experienced significant reductions in water levels, partly attributable to illegal mining activities that have obstructed upstream tributaries, including the Dengwe River,” he noted.
Mr Chiyuni said in response, the Ministry in collaboration with the Water Resources Management Agency (WARMA) and Northwestern Water Supply and Sanitation (WWSSCL) has been engaging communities in Kasempa District and cooperating partners on the urgent need to protect the water body by curbing pollution associated with illegal mining activities.
He said the government remains deeply concerned about the threatened water supply to over 24,136 residents who depend on the Lufupa River Water Treatment Plant operated by NWWSSCL.
“Furthermore, the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation working jointly with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development through the Kasempa Town Council and the District Administration is supporting the development of alternative water sources,” he said.
Mr Chiyuni said as part of these efforts, a total of K5 million has been allocated from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for the drilling of two boreholes and the construction of water distribution infrastructure to help mitigate the prevailing water supply challenges.
He said to address interruptions in water supply caused by high turbidity during the rainy season, the Ministry is working with the North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company to develop and utilise alternative water sources during such periods.
Mr Chiyuni disclosed that in Solwezi District, the Ministry has allocated K10, 000,000 towards improving water supply infrastructure adding that the intervention includes the drilling of a commercial borehole and the construction of a 500-cubic-metre steel reserve distribution tank in the College area.
He said the project is expected to enhance water supply to areas served by the Solwezi Main Water Treatment Plant, which is often affected by high turbidity during the rainy season.
Mr Chiyuni further said the construction of a weir at the Solwezi River intake will improve water abstraction capacity for the main treatment plant thereby strengthening water security for the District.
He further called for utility companies to collaborate closely with the government to develop and utilise alternative water sources for periods when river water becomes too muddy to treat effectively.
