Siltation slows down LWB

Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) has been hit by siltation in Lilongwe River, which is slowing down its water distribution operations.

LWB acting public relations officer Trevor Phoya on Wednesday showed journalists tonnes of sand and other debris in treatment tanks at the boards headquarters.

Phoya said environmental degradation in the Lilongwe River catchment area is contributing heavily to siltation.

“As you can see from the accumulated sand, soil and debris in these tanks, it is a huge problem and we are heavily affected and this in turn affects distribution of water because it takes a minimum of six hours to purify the water,” he said.

Phoya said the board is blamed for intermittent water supply yet the problem emanates from the community which is degrading the environment.

“I don’t have figures but this exercise is very costly.  We are talking about hundreds of millions of kwacha. We carry out cleaning exercises five times a year and you can imagine how expensive it is,” said Phoya.

However, the publicist assured residents that despite the challenges, LWB always provides potable water.

“I can assure our consumers that we always treat our water. Sometimes they get dirty water because of a burst pipe as a result of vandalism,” said Phoya.

The media tour comes after another one that LWB conducted for consumers to its sites in the capital city.  n