By Amos Zulu
Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection Minister, Jonas Chanda has described as tragic the state of old infrastructure used to treat water and sewerage in Kabwe.
Dr Chanda says if left unchecked, the danger may lead to Lukanga Water Supply and Sanitaion Company resort to rationing of water or a complete shutdown.
Dr Chanda who toured the Mulungushi Dam, which is the main source of treated water to Kabwe residents directed Lukanga Water Supply and Sanitation Company to come up with ideal and emergency cost responses that will urgently address the challenges being faced by the utility.
He said it is a disaster in making for the fourth largest town in the country to have challenges of water supply and sanitation services.
The Minister said infrastructure at the dam which was constructed 30 years ago has seen no upgrade and only enables the plant to pump 14,000 cubic meters of water out of the 37,000 cubic meters capacity.
He explained that the old valves, clarifiers and pumps need to be replaced urgently.
And when he toured a vandalised sewer collector in Natuseko area which has been in existence for three years, The Minister said the sewer which has created artificial open defecation area poses a danger to the health of the people.
The area which belongs to the utility company has been encroached.
Meanwhile, Lukanga Water Supply and Sanitation Company Managing Director Yorum Sinyangwe says the plant requires an 11 point three million Kwacha emergency response to replace some civil structures and two pumps.
Mr Sinyangwe has appealed to the Minister to ensure that the 34 million Kwacha Makululu Water Supply project takes off.
Mr Sinyangwe said the Makululu Water Supply Project will help address challenges of water supply and Sanitation that the settlement is facing.
