Boitumelo Koloi
Maseru

The Minister of Energy, Meteorology and Water Affairs Tšeliso Mokhosi has promised to end Maseru’s water woes by September this year.
Addressing a media briefing in Maseru on Thursday, Mokhosi said the shortage of water will be a thing of the past when the Metolong Water project is launched in September.

Mokhosi’s promise comes hard on the heels of yet another water supply disruption, which came after the Maseru main treatment plant was severely damaged following heavy rains.

But according to Mokhosi, the Metolong Dam, which is still under construction in Thaba-Bosiu, would be the answer to the city’s water troubles, adding remarkable progress had already been made at the project site.
“As a result of the recent good rains experienced countrywide, we have been able to collect more water in the dam than anticipated. We have even been forced to release some of the water in the dam in order to enable construction work to continue,” Mokhosi said.

The minister further said the dam’s 80-metre-high wall had accumulated water up to the 34-metre level so some of the water had to be released through the dam’s underground tunnels.

Meanwhile, the Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) chief executive officer, Mathealira Lerotholi, said Metolong water would be treated using the latest technology and is going to offer “a consistent supply of clean water for residents of the capital as well as other neighbouring towns including Teyateyaneng, Roma, Morija and Mazenod”.

Construction of the dam is expected to continue into the fourth quarter of 2014. Initial impoundment (allowing water to accumulate) of the dam is scheduled to take place at the end of the current year, permitting the commissioning of the Water Treatment Works (WTW) during the second quarter of 2014.