Maputo water supply back to normal by Wednesday – AIM report

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Maputo water supply back to normal by Wednesday – AIM report

8:14 CAT | 19 Feb 2020

Photo: Social Media

Mozambique’s Deputy Minister of Public Works, Cecilia Chamutota, on Monday guaranteed that water supply in the Greater Maputo region will be back to normal by Wednesday.

The water supply to Maputo, the neighbouring city of Matola and the town of Boane was drastically reduced when, on 8 February, there were major breaks in two mains pipes carrying water from the treatment plant on the Umbeluzi river.

The pipes ruptured when part of a metallic bridge carrying them over the Umbeluzi, in the Campoane neighbourhood of Boane district, collapsed. The reasons for the collapse are not yet known.

Speaking to reporters at Campoane, Chamutota said “the work is taking place in accordance with the timetable established for the job, which is ten days. The metallic structure that will support the pipes has been put into place, and right now the mains pipes are being reinstalled. We think that tests will begin on Tuesday, and that normal water supply will resume on Wednesday”.

Chamutota said that the Maputo Regional Water Company (AdeM) has been supplying water to urban neighbourhoods on alternate days. She was aware that the water did not reach some zones because of low water pressure, but in these areas mobile water tanks were installed to minimise the problem.

In parts of the water distribution network there had been acts of vandalism, where people broke into the pipes to siphon off water. Chamutota said this sabotage prejudices consumers and the company, which loses money and cannot ensure adequate distribution.

“We urge the population to pay attention to this phenomenon and help preserve public infrastructures”, said the Deputy Minister.

As for the apparently murky nature of the water emerging from many Maputo taps, she said this was normal “when we are using alternative sources of water”.

A source in the water sector told the reporters that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has established a tolerable level of turbidity in drinking water, and AdeM has not exceeded this. “Despite the turbidity, the water is drinkable, and there are technical teams working 24 hours a day to control the quality of the water”.

“When the normal levels of water supply return, there will be no more turbidity”. The source promised.

As for the causes of the collapse, Chamutota said it is premature to speculate, since a commission of inquiry is looking into the matter.

When the repairs are complete, the mains pipes will carry 240,000 cubic metres of water a day, which is the full capacity of the Umbeluzi treatment and pumping station. With the restrictions imposed on AdeM, the company could only supply between 100,000 and 105,000 cubic metres of water to Greater Maputo.

Source: AIM