Screenshot of the video clip of water gushing out posted by BWB on its Facebook account
* Thus pumping at Walkers Ferry has been temporarily shut down to allow maintenance works to be carried out
* Happens just three weeks after repairing another spot that was also destroyed on the same transmission pipeline between Walkers Ferry and Chileka pumping stations
By Duncan Mlanjira
Thieves have once more vandalised main transmission pipeline for Blantyre Water Board (BWB) just three weeks after repairing another spot that was also destroyed.
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Taps have once more run dry in Blantyre and BWB reports that a valve was vandalised on the transmission pipeline from Walkers Ferry to Chileka pumping stations.
As of yesterday, Walkers Ferry reduced its pumping capacity to 50% to minimise water loss through the damaged section and today, BWB has discovered that a spindle, which is used to open and close the valve has been cut off.
Thus pumping at Walkers Ferry has been temporarily shut down to allow maintenance works to be carried out.
“Consequently, most areas will be without water supply, while some areas will continue to receive water from Mudi and Nguludi pumping stations.
“As maintenance works are underway, the Board will start deploying water bowsers to most affected areas, with priority being given to hospitals and public institutions.”
The damage on October 2
After repairing the chamber (pipe interconnection point) three weeks ago, BWB issued a statement on October 4 strongly condemning the continued acts of vandalism.
“The Board strongly condemns these criminal and evil acts which are a huge setback to provision of clean water to Blantyre City.
“The Board is, therefore, appealing to all customers and members of the public to protect water infrastructure and report any suspected acts of vandalism, theft or tampering to the relevant law enforcement authorities or Blantyre Water Board,” said the public utility service provider.
That incident happened just a few days after BWB — in conjunction with the Malawi Police and its community policing groups — launched a community sensitisation campaign in Bangwe aimed at curbing the increasing cases of water meter theft, vandalism and other malpractices affecting water supply in Blantyre City.
But this sensitisation campaigns seem to fall on deaf ears as people sometimes tamper with transmission pipelines not just steal the vital equipment but also to harvest the water.
And it is suspected that culprits could be former employees with experienced knowledge of how the systems work and how much the equipment they steal is worth on the unregulated scrap metal business.
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