Blantyre residents must anticipate continued water interruptions up to mid next year as Blantyre Water Board (BWB) has embarked on massive reinvestment programme to the tune of about K4 billion to end water shortage.
The board’s chief executive officer, Owen Thawe, told journalists in Blantyre last week that in the course of executing the projects, there will be interruptions in water supply as some equipment would have to be replaced.
The journalists were taken to Walkers’ Ferry in Mwanza where BWB is maintaining and upgrading its equipment, Chileka, where the board is upgrading a pumping station and some places in Blantyre where water reservoirs are being constructed to increase capacity.
BWB director of technical services Mavuto Chiipanthenga told journalists before the tour that the board faces challenges that include dilapidation of water facilities, lack of adequate financing for major capital investment projects, among others.
He said the board also faces rising operating costs due to increasing cost of inputs and tariffs.
Chiipanthenga disclosed that rehabilitation of Chileka pumping station began in March 2013 and is expected to be completed by October 2014.
“The scope of works include replacement of all pumps, motors and all accessories in the pumping halls with an aim of upgrading production capacity. The works will also include rehabilitation of twin pipelines,” he said.
