Blantyre Water Board has attributed the current water shortage in the city to the vandalism of its main pipes between Walker’s Ferry and Chileka.

In an interview with local media, the BWB spokesperson Evelyn Khonje said the vandalism caused the pipe to burst at Nkula due to high pressure, resulting to closure of water in most areas in the city to give room to its technicians to undertake repairs.

She explained that although the utility provider resumed pumping at some point, the pipe burst again at almost the same place.

Having worked on the problem, the publicist pointed out that only one pump is running and was quick to assure that both pumps will resume pumping water to the city soon.

Khonje did not however, disclose when exactly normal supply of water would resume in the commercial city.

She stated that the problem has affected the whole Blantyre city.

“Every reservoir is dry. We’re pumping water at Mudi Dam,” said Khonje.

She nonetheless assured that BWB is striving to resume normal supply as soon as is practicable adding that currently water supply is running at 50 percent.

Asked what measures have been taken to ensure that supply to essential services such as hospitals is not disrupted, she indicated that they are using Mudi Dam to ferry water to health facilities using water bowsers.

For three days, residents of Blantyre have been subjected to dry taps with some areas experiencing erratic supply.

Source : Kulinji