Constant generator breakdowns have been cited as the major cause of the now chronic water shortages in Etsha 13, with the current shortages blamed on one generator at one borehole failing, leading to low supply.
Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) General Manager Paul Mafavuneh has confirmed that villagers battling low to no water supply since April this year noting that the faulty generator has since been taken for repairs.
“The main problem we are facing is that we are unable to source generator spare parts since they can only be sourced outside country. We have however engaged Water Africa to fix our generators since they are able to source parts from South Africa,” Mafavuneh explained in an interview.
He also pointed out that though maintenance of generators is expensive it is however their only option as they tend to lose solar systems installed in boreholes to pump water to vandalism and theft. He noted that the village has two boreholes that both use diesel generator pumps to supply the whole village. According to him, the village is currently supplied by one borehole which is unable to feed other parts of the village.
According to Mafavuneh, to alleviate the shortage they have since enlisted water bowsers to supply the communities, though not enough as some other villages in the area are facing the same problem.
He made an assurance that the generator will be operational by next week and water supply in the area will improve.
Meanwhile Mafavuneh noted that water supply in Maun is expected improve with flooding of the Thamalakane River past the Borolong water treatment plant which supplies some wards in Maun.
He indicated that they expect the water supply situation to have fully recovered this month.
Borolong water treatment plant which is fed by Thamalakane River was recently shut down after the river dried up. As a result, affected areas among them Boseja, Matlapana, Disaneng and Matshwane frequently experienced low to no water supply.
To ensure equitable distribution of supply from the remaining sources of Kunyere, Shashe and Gogomoga well fields, a ration schedule was introduced as a measure to mitigate shortage of water supply.
