NRWB needs K33bn to sustain water supply
Mzuzu City’s fast growing population has started exerting pressure on Northern Region Water Board (NRWB) services, a development that has seen the board making efforts to source over $75 million (K33 billion) to construct a new dam.
The current dam at Lunyangwa was constructed between 1988 and 1992 to cater for the population as of 2005.
With the growing population, the dam, with a capacity of four million cubic metres, has proved to be small and the city might experience serious water problems in the near future if there is no immediate intervention.
The growing population has also resulted in the wanton cutting down of trees around the Lunyangwa catchment area, leading to soil erosion and siltation in the dam, thereby affecting water levels.
NRWB public relations officer Edward Nyirenda told Business News on Sunday the board urgently needs a new dam at Lambilambi in Chikangawa, which will cost $75 million, to sustain water supply in Mzuzu.
He said a feasibility study was already done, but construction cannot start without the money, adding that the board is currently engaging government to avoid a looming disaster in the region.
As a short-term solution to the growing population, NRWB decided to cut off Ekwendeni from Mzuzu intake and rehabilitated an old intake in the area.
Ekwendeni is now being supplied by a rehabilitated intake that pumps 1 000 cubic metres daily.
“In the short-term, the board has revived Ekwendeni Plant with the view of taking Ekwendeni supply off Mzuzu to reduce the draw off from Lunyangwa Dam.
“This project cost the board K31.5 million and has been financed from the boards’ own resources,” said Nyirenda.
NRWB has also intensified protection of its catchment area in Mzuzu by planting trees and urging people to plant and protect forest reserves as they are waiting to secure funds for the new dam.
NRWB, in conjunction with Moyale Barracks and forestry officials, councillors, students and surrounding communities, embarked on a tree-planting exercise of 10 000 trees at Kaning’ina forest.
NRWB board chairperson Professor Peter Mwanza said Kaning’ina forest is being destroyed at a fast rate and the destruction is impacting on Lunyangwa Dam.
“Kaning’ina Forest Reserve is disappearing fast through environmental degradation. There is wanton cutting down of trees and fresh water in the dam is becoming insufficient.
“If we do not take care of this catchment now, one day, nothing maybe left of the very reserve that protects our dam,” he said.
