Bulawayo Mayor urges residents to conserve water as El Nino threatens water Reserves
Bulawayo Mayor, David Coltart has urged residents to conserve water and owners of boreholes to be conservative in their water usage as potential water shortages may arise due to the ongoing El Nino.
In light of the forecasted water shortages in Bulawayo, Coltart emphasised that it is crucial that residents of Bulawayo take immediate action to conserve water.
He said on his X (Twitter) account, “I appeal to all residents to do whatever they can to conserve water in the City.”
“Please would owners of boreholes also be conservative in water usage. The water table is dropping and we must be responsible. Try not to water during the heat of the day – rather water in the early evening or at night so that evaporation is reduced,” he added.
Harvests in Danger
According to Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) the El Niño which is expected to drive below average rainfall across Southern Africa will likely result in below average harvests.
“The ongoing strong El Niño event, which is forecast to reach peak intensity in late 2023 and dissipate by mid-2024, is expected to drive below-average rainfall across much of Southern Africa (Figure 1),” reads the FEWS NET report.
The report also stated, “The rainfall deficits will likely result in below-average 2024 harvests, including in surplus- producing South Africa and Zambia. Furthermore, this shock follows localized below-average harvests in 2023 and poor macroeconomic conditions in Malawi and Zimbabwe. The negative impacts of the El Niño during the 2023/24 rainy season, including low labor opportunities and high food prices, are expected to offset any recent improvements from declining inflation.”
FEWS NET anticipates that the ongoing El Niño, in combination with elevated air temperatures due to climate change, is likely to affect food security in several regions through below- or above-normal seasonal rainfall. FEWS NET is on watch for drier- and hotter-than-normal conditions in Southern Africa, Central America, and northern South America, and for above-normal precipitation in the Horn of Africa and Central Asia during late 2023 and early 2024.
Conserving Water
Coltart’s appeal aligns with FEWS NET’s forecast of below-average rainfall in Southern Africa, including Bulawayo. The appeal emphasises the importance of conserving water in the city, given that the dams are already low reportedly below half and further water shortages are expected.
The mayor also urges owners of boreholes to be responsible and conservative in their water usage, given that the water table is dropping. He also recommends watering in the early evening or at night to reduce evaporation.
The appeal from Bulawayo Mayor’s X account provides practical advice on how to conserve water, such as watering in the early evening or at night to reduce evaporation. The statement also appeals to owners of boreholes to be responsible and conservative in their water usage.
#News in Bulawayo #News in Zimbabwe Artist Arts BCC Bulawayo Bulawayo City Council Bulawayo economy Bulawayo industry Bulawayo news Bulawayo Police Bulawayo Water Bulawayo Water Crisis Bulawayo Women entrepreneurship Business Women Community Culture Currency Drug Abuse Drugs Economy Farmer Farmers Farming Informal Sector Informal Traders Mining MSMEs Murder Music News in Bulawayo News in Zimbabwe Police Police in Bulawayo Vendor Vendors water Water Crisis Water Shortage water supply issue Women entrepreneurship ZESA Zimbabwean economy Zimbabwe news Zimbabwe water crisis ZRP
Our stories told by us!
Join us for all News in Bulawayo and Bulawayo News in Zimbabwe.
