Water is a basic need that must be provided to all the citizens and this is an obligation on the side of government through various mandated water utility institutions. In a more simple description, water is said to be an indispensable commodity and life would be impossible without it.
As it seems, people can live for a ‘few’ days without water but for the household, a day would be terribly difficult without this life enabling commodity. This suggests that people would not brush their teeth or wash themselves. As such, people must atleast have access to a certain quantity of water per day and the water must be free from contamination.
According to research, the human water requirements are far more than it can be expected. In fact water is not only for food, it is a chemically defined molecule which constitutes a core nutrient essential for health and survival of the human beings. The human body has no provision for water shortages as can only be highly compromised without water. It is clear from this information that water is an indispensable commodity for human beings. Try to imagine how the situation would be if there was no water in the households. The obvious is that everything would be dirty in the house and drinks will be no more. This would be a situation where it would not be possible for one to prepare ones best meal.
In view of water shortage problem, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) states that “water use has been growing globally at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century and an increasing number of regions are reaching the limit at which water services can be sustainably delivered”.
And a research conducted by Elliot Masoto Machette, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Development, “Water shortage is a global problem. While other people in some parts of the world maybe enjoying enough supply of water others are faced with water shortage”. This suggests that Mpatamatu residents especially those from section 24 Kansumbi area are not an exception in this regard because they do not have access to water but rely on distance conveyance and wells.
As it were, water shortage is crucial for basic household needs such as washing, cooking, sewerage system and drinking. And the households in Mpatamatu Township mainly depend on Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company Limited (KWSC) for basic services such as better sanitation and water supply.
Research shows that few years ago water used to reach most of the households in Mpatamatu Township through pipes to the taps in the yards. However, since 2013 many people are seen carrying water containers up and down drawing water from other sections in the township. This situation depicts an inadequate supply of water in the township.
Among other issues around the water problem in this township include the decreasing quantity and quality of water; dysfunctional municipal water infrastructures that have resulted in the potential water crisis widely publicized in the media.
KWSC mission on the Copperbelt particularly residents of Luanshya’s Mpatamatu Township is to provide them with efficient and high quality water and sewerage Services within the prescribed operational areas on a sustainable commercial basis. However, the company does not always achieve its mission due to commercial, technical, water quality and sewerage system challenges.
But what causes water shortage in Mpatamatu and other places if KWSC’s mission is to provide efficient and high quality water and sewerage Services to its customers? It is important to ascertain the causes of Mpatamatu’s water shortage in order to improve the situation further and to prevent future water crisis. The findings indicate that for many years there has been an increased need for (i) funding (ii) management and (iii) development of water resources in Luanshya district because of the increasing population as well as the town’s increasing use of water for activities such as agriculture.
Research reveals that demographic growth and economic development are putting unprecedented pressure on renewable, but finite water resources. Water shortage problem in Mpatamatu has also been increasing due to lack of maintenance and this has resulted in the scramble sources of water due to one water supply in the town. The population of the whole town stands at approximately 153, 117 and of this population, Mpatamatu contribute approximately 30 percent.
It has also been discovered that
KWSC face so many challenges in trying to live up to its mandate. In Mpatamatu, KWSC company has relatively low plant outputs from Water Treatment Plants due to frequent breakdown of aged equipment. Lack of capital injection in past is just one other challenge that has caused the company not to supply enough water to its customers in Luanshya town in general.
Research also shows that high level of Non-Revenue Water (NRW) puts the company at a huge loss. NRW basically is water that has been produced but is never sold. Apparently, NRW is estimated to take up atleast 44% of the water produced.
Low metering ratio in the area; dilapidated service pipes at customer premises and large number of leaks and frequent pipe bursts due to age of the network in the township are also other causes of water shortage in the area.
Even although most of the households in Mpatamatu have been experiencing water shortage problem, those whose facets still receive the commodity always strive to make payments every month. This situation is very unfair according to the laws of Zambia.
However, the challenges faced by the utility company seem not to be residents business.
Residents say the company has failed them following that the perpetual water shortage problem in Mpatamatu started two to three years ago adding that company’s management should resign on moral ground as they have failed to find a lasting solution to the long standing water shortage problem in Luanshya as a whole.
Mpatamatu residents further says water shortage has posed a negative impact on them and having been exposed to a prolonged water shortage, people have embraced a system of fetching and storing water in drums and 20lites containers in their households. Consumers have eventually realized that they have to conserve water in order to get more use out of every drop.
Residents also says that the patients’ health conditions in the township are made worse by severe water shortages adding that not being able to provide safe water results in a serious threat to the health of expectant mothers.
Water shortage in Mpatamatu Township has also impacted negatively on both the gardening and the brick making projects in the area. It is common knowledge that projects such as gardening and brick making demand a lot of water for survival. Most of these projects that provided employment for some people in the Mpatamatu have collapsed because of water shortage. The collapse has eventually resulted to unemployment for the people who earned a living from these projects.
It is also sad to note that people especially women and children in the area often compromise their social time looking for water when it is not available in or near their homes. Women and children forfeit quality time as a family with their fathers or husbands due to the fact that they will be looking for water elsewhere.
Furthermore, water shortage is a hindrance to a variety of development projects such as; road construction, complexes and other social amenities in the township. Sufficient water plays a pivotal role for the survival of these projects.
And KWSC says the company is keen to respond to its customers need however, the company faces numerous challenges such as increased water deficits, water pollution and decreasing water quality that not only affect availability of water but could impact negatively on human health, ageing water and wastewater infrastructure; a severe lack of adequate human resources; the impact of climate change on water resources; the illegal use of water etc.,.
The current state of affairs in the township provides some suggestions on what the business community and industry can collectively do with KWSC to alleviate the problem of water shortage that includes rehabilitation of Mpatamatu’s water infrastructure and the provision of water to area people.
Residents says KWSC could devise a variety of flagship projects so as to respond to customers need and meet its motto which states as follows: “Service - Efficiency – Commitment”.
Among other projects that could curb the water shortage problem in Mpatamatu Township include but not limited to rehabilitation of existing water intake, water treatment plants and pumping stations in the three project towns; replacement and/or rehabilitation of transmission mains, booster pumping stations, water reservoirs and distribution systems; rehabilitation of water supply network in the area and also increasing metering ratio to 100%.
It has been discovered that water in Mpatamatu like everywhere in the world, is becoming both a scarce and a crucial resource; particularly because both people and industries need water and electricity for survival. However, the problem is escalating at an alarming rate as the number of households in the township increases rapidly.
Overall, the importance of water for socioeconomic development is well recognized globally, but with increasing population and industrialization and their demands for water for various uses, water shortage is looming in many countries of the world. As such, Water shortage on the households of Mpatamatu Township in Luanshya district is worrisome and need serious attention.
About the Author
Winston Muleba Junior is a Digital Journalist, Aquaculturist, Researcher, Writer and Disaster Management Practitioner who uses media and ICT to promote environmental conservation; science, technology and innovation. He gravitates towards environment, water, aquaculture and agriculture as he is skilled at juxtaposing the latest research and expert opinion with the everyday lives and struggles of people on the ground.
Email: mwenyamuleba@gmail.com
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