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Poor infrastructure investment affecting delivery - MWSC MD

Poor infrastructure investment affecting delivery - MWSC MD
By Namatama Mundia
Wed 31 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT

THE Mulonga Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) Limited has said poor levels of investment in the company’s infrastructure has led to a lower service delivery.

Appearing before the parliamentary committee on energy, environment and tourism to respond to audit issues which were highlighted in the Auditor General’s report yesterday, MWSC managing director Manuel Mutale said his company was faced with a lot of challenges.

“The one overriding issue you will find is that there has been no investment of note into Mulonga’s infrastructure and this has led to a lower than desired service level,” he said.

Mutale explained that areas such as Chikola B that were highlighted in the Auditor General’s report did not have water due to water network that had collapsed.

“This collapse had been caused by blockages in the pipes resulting from vandalism of the network by the residents who were in search of water at a time when system pressures had reduced due to increased demand and leakages,” he said. “It was a generally widespread practice to access water from the main distribution pipes by the residents.”

Mutale said Kabundi, Chiwempala, Kasompe and Chabanyama received 15 to 17 hours of supply due to demand outstripping supply since no major investment at the water works had been undertaken to increase capacity.

“This matter is made worse by leaks in the distribution system which rapidly depletes water stocks,” he said.

On overall Unaccounted for Water (UfW) of 16 per cent and estimated revenue loss of K9 billion, MWSC director technical Kanyembo Ndhlovu explained that the level of leaks in the system and the low metering ratio of under 30 per cent had a major impact on the level of UfW.

“The current position is that the UfW is down to 42 per cent overall and targeted to reduce to 32 per cent by the end of 2010 depending on inflow of financing for network repairs,” Ndhlovu said. “The metering ratio has grown to over 45 per cent and is estimated to rise to around 60 per cent by the end of 2010.”

He said the infrastructure which was being operated by Mulonga Water in Chingola, Mufulira and Chililabombwe was old and under-capacity.

“The company is currently scouting for financiers to partner with in order to undertake major capital works to redress the situation. It should also be noted that out of all the existing water utilities in the country, only Mulonga water does not have a donor or financier working with it at the moment,” said Ndhlovu.

Labels: MANUEL MUTALE, MWSC

posted by MrK @ 4:22 AM