Harare (New Ziana) – The Harare City Council plans to set up a chlorine dioxide plant to cut down on water purification costs, a senior municipal official has said.
At the moment, the council uses no less than nine chemicals to purify water, a process that is costly. This is due to the heavy pollution of the council’s main water sources.
Presenting the 2023 council budget, finance and development committee chairperson, Costa Mande said the chlorine plant would reduce water purification costs considerably and help realise the municipality’s dream of increasing water supplies in the city.
The plant will be sited at current water treatment facilities near Norton and will result in output increasing from the current 350 megalitres daily to 500 megalitres.
“The 2023 budget seeks to support water infrastructure and rehabilitation through construction of a chlorine dioxide plant at Morton Jaffray Water Works. The project is expected to reduce the number of chemicals used in the purification of water. This will have a positive impact in the reduction of the cost of chemicals and the subsequent tariff,” he said.
“Refurbishment at Morton Jaffray Prince Edward and Warren Control will improve water production and pumping to 500 Megalitres/Day from the current average of 350 Megalitres/Day once complete. Furthermore, interventions in the distribution network and installation of prepaid water meters will result in reduction of non-revenue water by 3 percent and improve revenue collection,” Mande said.
Water supply in the capital is a serious, persistent problem with large parts of the city always short at any given time.
This has prompted residents and businesses to drill boreholes for private water supply.
New Ziana
