Dry Taps In Masvingo City As Main Pump Stations Break Down, Again

Most residential areas in Masvingo City were without running water for three consecutive days (starting on Friday last week) after an electrical fault damaged the main pump station. Some residents resorted to fetching water from boreholes drilled in the municipality by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). In a move to avert a potential health crisis, the city council resorted to the use of water bowsers to deliver water in some areas. In a statement, Masvingo town clerk Adolf Gusha said

The City of Masvingo wishes to advise its residents and the public that there was an overvoltage incident that resulted in damage to all the three interface control units at the intake tower abstraction pump station at Bushmead. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon and led to a complete breakdown of the pump station.

A replacement unit was found from another pump station, and it was installed and commissioned at 2300hours.

However, since only one of the two pumps is operational at this station, the capacity to pump water to the city is reduced to 70% of the normal. As a result, the water supply will be reduced and shortages will be pronounced in areas on high ground.

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