Solar plant to ease Dedza water woes

Central Region Water Board (CRWB) has installed a solar water pump to ease water challenges in Dedza.

The installation of the 86.4 kilowatt water pump will increase water production at Dedza Town and other surrounding areas.

Speaking during a tour of the facility on Tuesday in Dedza by the Minister of Forestry and Natural Resources Nancy Tembo, CRWB chief executive officer Gift Sageme said the demand for water in Dedza is at 7 000 cubic metres per day but they are supplying 2 000 cubic metres.

He said: “This facility has two submersible water pumps which are pumping water to Dedza Water Board Treatment Plant.

“The facility will combine power supply from Escom [Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi] with solar power to ensure that water is pumped all the time while increasing production capacity in the process.”

In her remarks, Tembo said government is committed to ending water problems by implementing projects that will be sustainable in the long run.

“We need to plan ahead because as you can see Dedza is growing and more people will need water in the future,” she said.

Dedza district commissioner Emmanuel Bulukutu said the initiative came at the right time when the district was experiencing water shortages.

The project was implemented by government with funding from the World Bank to the tune of $1.2 million (about K900 million), but Foundation for Irrigation and Sustainable Development (Fisd) Limited company won the contract to install the solar plant.

Fisd chief construction officer Raymond Mwenitete said the facility consists of 320 solar panels.