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Karonga new water system rolls into action today

 

 

Northern Region Water Board (NRWB) has installed a K500 million ($836 120) water treatment system in Karonga to cushion the shoreline’s growing population from a looming water crisis.

The system, which largely comprises three sand-filled pressure tanks fabricated by Water Treatment Equipment in India, has the capacity to supply about 11.5 million litres of water a month.

NRWB director of technical services Mwiza Mtawali said the system will increase access to potable water in the district to 2 000 connections.

Currently, about 600 are connected to the ultramodern Garnet Halliday Plant donated in 2010 by Paladin (Africa) Limited, a subsidiary of dual-listed Paladin Energy Limited, which owns Kayelekera Uranium Mine in Karonga.

Snubbed: Karonga plant presents huge  transport costs
The new treatment system to be commissioned today

Mtawali told journalists in Karonga last week the new system, termed a technological backslide by the Statutory Corporations Committee of Parliament, will run parallel to the hugely existing automated system whose design period expires this year.

“The tanks are ready [and] we are just waiting for dosing pumps which were cleared [last] Wednesday. Come Tuesday [today], Karonga will have two systems,” he said.

Mtawali said the newly- installed system is cheap to run and repair and will cut electricity bills from about K7.5 million ($12 542) per month to around K4 million ($6 689).

Besides, spares of the system can be sourced from South Africa, evading overseas transactions as the hi-tech Garnet Halliday facility comprises parts made in Australia, Germany, Spain and United States (US).

“So automated is the system that it shuts down when one part is not functioning properly. The problem is that it comprises parts from all over the world put together,” said Mtawali.

Due for replacement this year, the expense of importing the specialised membranes from Australia was estimated at four million rands (K168 million) last year and the board may have to spend more to install new filters to cope with rapid population growth.

Northern zone manager Edward Chirambo commended Sawa Group for completing the construction works before the agreed December deadline.

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