BULAWAYO, Jun. 5 (NewsDay Live) – The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is set to commission the rehabilitated Umzingwane Pump Station next week following the successful completion of a government-funded refurbishment project aimed at improving the city’s water supply infrastructure.
In a statement, BCC Corporate Communications Officer Bongiwe Ngwenya said the commissioning ceremony will take place on June 11 at the Umzingwane Pump Station.
“Following the successful completion of the project, the City of Bulawayo will be commissioning the Umzingwane pumps on Thursday, June 11, at 10am at the Umzingwane Pump Station,” said Ngwenya.
She said the project involved the supply and installation of new water pumps and associated equipment.
“The project entailed the supply and installation of water pumps and associated accessories at the Umzingwane Pump Station and was implemented as part of Government efforts to strengthen urban water supply infrastructure and improve service delivery,” she said.
The rehabilitation comes as Bulawayo continues to face water supply challenges despite recent improvements in dam levels.
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Umzingwane Dam, one of the city’s key water sources, is currently holding about 40.6% of its capacity. However, concerns remain over environmental degradation in the catchment area, particularly illegal alluvial gold mining activities along the Umzingwane River.
Environmental experts and civic groups have warned that the mining activities pose a threat to the ecological integrity of the river system and could negatively affect water quality flowing into the dam.
As a result of limited water reserves and ongoing pressure on supply systems, Bulawayo City Council continues to implement water conservation measures and periodic water-shedding programmes across the city to manage available resources and ensure equitable distribution of water.
The commissioning of the upgraded pump station is expected to enhance the efficiency of water abstraction and delivery, providing some relief to residents who have endured persistent water shortages in recent years.