The affected pipeline
* Following attempted vandalism of main transmission pipeline from Walkers Ferry Pumping Station to Chileka
* Whose chamber (pipe interconnection point) got burst that resulted in huge volumes of water gushing out
* Vandalism and other malpractices affects water supply causing significant financial losses to Blantyre Water Board
* As BWB collaborates with Malawi Police Service to sensitise the public on the repercussions of the vice
By Duncan Mlanjira
Blantyre Water Board (BWB) has finally repaired a vandalised 600mm-diameter transmission pipeline from Walkers Ferry Pumping Station to Chileka that got burst due to attempted vandalism.
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For the past three days, Blantyre City taps ran dry in order to repair the affected pipeline and in a statement issued at 13h30 on Sunday, BWB reported that the emergency works were complete.
Pumping operations at Walkers Ferry, which were suspended to carry out the maintenance works, were expected to resume soon after.
The notice added that since the whole water supply system had been without water, supply restoration would be gradual once pumping operations resume.
Thus some customers were alerted that they may experience longer time to until sufficient water levels had built up in the supply system — which may take up to Monday or further
The Board pledged that it will continue to deploy water bowsers to affected areas until the situation returns to normal.
In its earlier public notice, BWB indicated that the when the pipe interconnection point got burst, the huge volumes of water that gushed out filled up the pipe chamber.
The damaged pipeline is a high-pressure pipe such that maintenance works could not commence while the pumping system at Walkers Ferry was still alive.
Thus major work was draining out the water to expose the broken part of the transmission pipeline to allow the technicians to safely and effectively do their work.
While Mudi and Nguludi pumping stations were being used as alternative source of supply, the supply was not adequate to cover the whole city.
Just on Thursday, BWB — in conjunction with the Bangwe Police and its community policing groups — launched a community sensitisation campaign aimed at curbing the increasing cases of water meter theft, vandalism and other malpractices affecting water supply in Blantyre City.
On its official Facebook account, BWB reported that during the engagement meeting in Bangwe, residents were sensitised on the negative impacts of vandalism of its infrastructure.
“The campaign comes amid increasing cases of water meter theft and vandalism of water pipes, which are negatively affecting water service delivery and contributing to non-revenue water (NRW),” said the report.
BWB acting Chief Executive Officer, Bright Mziliwanda is reported to have expressed concern over the growing number of cases involving the theft of water meters and vandalism as a whole.
Mziliwanda emphasised that the vice was causing significant financial losses to BWB and called on communities to work together with BWB and the Malawi Police to protect the water infrastructure.
“We are here today to make it clear that it is wrong to steal Blantyre Water Board property,” he is quoted as saying. “We are working with the police and community policing to make sure that all culprits are brought to book.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police for the South West Region, Greadwick Mangadzi assured that the law enforcement would continue to provide support to BWB to protect its infrastructure.
He also urged the Bangwe residents and all communities at large to report any suspected cases of vandalism and as part of strengthening the collaboration, BWB supplied to Bangwe community policing groups 100 reflective vests, 20 torches and 66 whistles.
BWB indicated that it has planned to hold similar meetings in other areas within its supply area.
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