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Lukanga Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited (LgWSC) has acknowledged the water supply crisis affecting most parts of Itezhi Tezhi District in Southern Province.
Company Public Relations Manager, Siwa Mwene, in a statement issued on Wednesday in Itezhi-Tezhi cast the blame on the low water volumes which the company receives from the bulk water supplier from powef utility firm ZESCO.
Mwene said currently ZESCO Limited manages overall water production whilst LgWSC at the moment only distributes and monitors water quality to about 950 properties.
“Through engagements with ZESCO, Lukanga Water has been informed that the power utility company is facing some challenges in the production of water due to unstable electrical power supply and a breakdown in critical equipment at the water treatment plant facilities,” she said.
Mwene said this has resulted in low volumes of water produced which are inadequate to satisfy water demand in Itezhi-Tezhi District, stating that for the past five days, Lukanga Water is only able to distribute water to a few properties for about three hours in the morning.
She said the the Company is optimistic that ZESCO will resolve the issues as soon as possible and is appealing for calm as authorities manage the situation back to normal.
“Lukanga Water has lobbied for resources from Itezhi-Tezhi Power Corporation for designing adequate water production and distribution systems as a long term intervention for stable water supply in Itezhi-Tezhi,” Mwene said.
She said so far, Lukanga Water has been involved in the selection of a consultant to undertake a study and provide necessary feasibility studies and detailed designs to alleviate the shortfalls which have been experienced in the past.
Mwene said the current scenario of Lukanga Water depending on ZESCO bulk water supply has proved to be unsustainable as the water company is allocated only a limited volume of water which is inadequate as the district is growing especially in Water demand.
“LgWSC has begun the process of handing over water supply and sanitation service provision to Southern Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited (SWASCO). The process is expected to be concluded by 31st July 2023,” she said
Mwene said on the other hand, Lukanga Water is yet to receive a written consent from the Itezhi Tezhi Town Council requesting surrendering of shareholding rights in Lukanga Water.
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