Water restrictions in Maputo, Matola and Boane to last until the next rains

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Water restrictions in Maputo, Matola and Boane to last until the next rains

11:51 CAT | 12 Apr 2017

Notícias / Pequenos Libombos

Water supply to the cities of Maputo, Matola and Boane will continue to be restricted until the next rainy season, when the Pequenos Libombos Dam is expected to return to sustainable levels.

The reservoir is currently at 28.12 percent of capacity, estimated at 400 million cubic metres, and no significant further increase is expected, given that the rainy season has now finished.

Even at the peak of the rains, the Umbeluzi basin did not record relevant reserves. In January, for example, it was at 13 percent of normal levels, and only 16 percent in February. However, the most significant increase occurred at the end of the rainy season, when levels rose by as much as 28 percent.

Data from the National Water Resources Management Office indicate that on Monday the dam was receiving 2.89 cubic metres of water per second, dropping to 2.67 cubic metres per second yesterday.

Output to the water treatment plant (ETA), the starting point for water from the public distribution network to the three municipalities, was 2.5 cubic metres per second yesterday, and will decrease as storage levels fall.

Faced with this situation, Águas da Maputo Region (AdeM) is reactivating 22 small supply systems in the districts of Nkobe, Trevo, Jardim, Infulene, Laulane, Magoanine and Polana-Caniço in the city of Maputo and Matola, chosen for having water production potential.

Gildo Timóteo said that the reactivation process would be completed in June, and would help address the crisis affecting the two cities.

In addition to these 22 systems, six more boreholes will be opened in Maputo city, with the City Council already having made space available. These should also be operational by June, according to the head of AdeM.

The next rainy season is due to start in October.

Source: Notícias