The government has attributed recent water supply interruptions in parts of Lusaka and Kafue districts to power outages triggered by heavy rains that damaged electricity infrastructure. In a statement issued on Thursday, Water Development and Sanitation Minister, Collins Nzovu, said the extreme weather conditions disrupted power supply to key water treatment facilities, resulting in reduced water production and shortages in some residential areas. Nzovu explained that the power disruptions affected operations at the Iolanda and Kaseba Water Treatment Plants in Kafue, which supply water to several communities under the Kafue water system.
He said that although both facilities were technically ready for operation, the lack of power significantly limited water production, causing widespread supply challenges. The minister, however, assured the public that engineers from the Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company (LWSC) and ZESCO Limited had worked together to restore electricity to the affected sites. He confirmed that power supply to both treatment plants had been restored by Thursday morning, allowing water production to resume.
He added that engineers would continue monitoring the systems to ensure stable operations and a gradual return to normal supply levels. As part of precautionary public health measures, Nzovu said LWSC would prioritise water supply to critical institutions, including hospitals and other essential public facilities, during the recovery period. He added that residential areas would experience rationing to ensure sustainable distribution of the available water.
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Nzovu said the government remained in close coordination with ZESCO and other stakeholders to secure a stable and reliable power supply to all water facilities affected by the heavy rains. He also urged residents to use water responsibly and rely on official communication channels for accurate updates, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring access to clean and safe water for all citizens. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA
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