Harare Failing To Account For 62% Of Its Treated Water
The City of Harare is currently producing less than half of the water that it requires on a daily basis, council Finance and Development chairperson Councillor Tichaona Mhetu has said.
Presenting the 2022 Proposed Budget on Tuesday at Town House, Cllr Mhetu said Harare is currently producing an average of 375 megalitres of water a day against a demand of over 1 000 megalitres per day.
He also said the local authority was only accounting for 48 per cent of the water it produces. He said:
In the area of water production, the City is currently producing an average of 375ML/Day against a demand of over 1000ML/Day.
Unfortunately, not all the water produced is billed as a substantial percentage is lost through water bursts and metering issues thus Non- Revenue Water is currently at 62 per cent.
This scenario means that City is only accounting for 48 per cent of what it produces.
He also indicated that the proposed budget will reduce non-revenue water through a number of interventions. Said Mhetu:
We also intend to expedite the utilisation of alternative water treatment chemicals such as chlorine dioxide, which will assist in reducing the cost of treating water
The proposed budget will reduce non-revenue water through a number of interventions namely pipe replacement, water metering and accurate billing.
Harare City Council unveiled a $41 billion budget which, among other things, increased charges for refuse collection from $565 to $778 per month or US$8 for high-density areas, while low-density areas will have to pay $1 112 up from $803 last year or its US$11 equivalent.
For clinic fees, residents are expected to pay $495 for adults and $297 for children, up from $417 and $250, respectively.
