GWERU City Council has increased its water pumping capacity to an average 52,67 megalitres per day from 38 megalitres after the successful installation of a transformer at Gwenhoro waterworks as well as the acquisition of motors for Amapongokwe Dam.
Mayor Martin Chivhoko yesterday confirmed the latest development saying the city was geared to improve water distribution to its residents.
He said the Midlands capital had procured motors for Amapongokwe low lift pumps.
“So we are now producing more raw water while at the same time we are currently testing our new high lift pumps,” he said.
“We are also happy to announce that our transformer at Gwenoro is now functional and in the next two weeks or so, we expect to increase the pumping capacity to 63 megalitres.”
Early this year, council installed a US$74 000 transformer at Gwenoro water treatment plant and the equipment was commissioned before it started working.
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Chivhoko, however, said although the local authority was making strides in improving water pumping capacity, the main pipeline was obsolete and needed to be replaced.
The installed capacity at the Gwenoro water treatment plant is 67 megalitres, but the Midlands capital requires at least 120 megalitres per day to cover the whole city.
Since the beginning of this year, council has resorted to a water-rationing schedule which, however, witnessed some parts of the city going for days without the precious liquid.
Meanwhile, Gweru Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development Association director David Chikore said the increase in pumping capacity was a welcome development as it would improve the water situation in the city.
“There is, however, a need for a complete overhaul of the whole water supply system to replace obsolete infrastructure,” he said.
Stakeholders have, over the years, called on the local authority to resuscitate its reservoirs to increase water supply to residents.