BWB project to end October

The Blantyre Water Board (BWB) project set to increase the supplier’s capacity and end water problems in the commercial city will be completed in October, authorities have said.

BWB acting production manager Roy Changadeya, speaking during a customers’ tour of the board’s facilities, including Walker’s Ferry and Chileka Pumping Station on Saturday, said most pieces of equipment for the project are on site and the works should be completed soon.

Under the project being funded by the European Union (EU) and the European Investment Bank, BWB will upgrade its major pumping stations at Walker’s Ferry and Chileka and rehabilitate the pipes that connect the two stations.

After the successful completion of the project, production at Walker’s Ferry will be increased from 64 000 cubic metres to 96 000 cubic metres, raising the board’s water supply capacity to 105 000 cubic metres.

Changadeya said they expect to complete the project in October, about a month later than planned, because the board changed one of its contractors.

“The major problem was the delayed delivery of the pumps and since we have the machines, including water pumps on site, we should be able to complete the project soon,” he said.

Apart from installation of the new pumps, the board is also rehabilitating tanks at Walker’s Ferry.

BWB is also upgrading and rehabilitating Chileka pumping station and constructing three 5 000 cubic metres reservoirs.

A BWB customer from Nancholi, Emmanuel Soko, who was part of the tour, said he appreciated some of the problems being experienced by the water supplier but encouraged the board to do more.