SRWB Drills K350m Borehole to Ease Water Challenges in Luchenza

Officials appreciate part of a SRWB's high-yielding borehole equipment Officials appreciate part of a SRWB's high-yielding borehole equipment - pic by Luka Beston

The Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) has expressed hope that water woes in Luchenza municipality in Thyolo will be minimized by January 2023 following the drilling of K350 million high-yielding borehole expected to pump over a million litres of water daily.

SRWB Chief Executive Officer, Duncan Chimbamba, has told Zodiak Saturday that the system which is a temporary measure will be supplying 40 percent of the current three million litres of water for Luchenza municipality’s demand.

Chimbamba believes the borehole will minimise the Luchenza municipality's water demand currently at three million litres daily, but the board is pumping and supplying between 500-700 litres from Likhubula water source which is way below the need.

"At least to try to meet that demand, that's why we thought of coming up with this initiative to try to get water from the underground source. And I am happy to mention that following this, we will be able to get 1.2 million litres of water everyday", Chimbamba said.

After touring the project on Saturday, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, John Bande assured the residents that government will construct more check-dams at Likhubula water source and other boreholes to improve water situation in the Municipality.

Bande assured: "What we feel should be done in the long term, the Likhubula dam at the Mulanje mountain is supposed to have check-dams including more of these boreholes within to improve water supply to Luchenza".

He further promised to liaise with the Ministry of Energy and the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) to ensure that power is installed at the facility before January 2023 as requested by the contractor for the smooth installation of the equipment.

According to SRWB, water woes in Luchenza municipality started in 2007 following the annual drying up of rivers from Mulanje mountain, and the high demand of water by both the Blantyre Water Board (BWB), Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) and communities at the Likhubula water supply system.

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