ANÁLISIS NODAL DEL POZO MDC-15H

During 2015, the water shortage in Gaborone became very acute. This forced WUC to introduce water restrictions and rationing not only in the city of Gaborone but also in Greater Gaborone. From early 2015 to August 2015, water supply became irregular and a rationing schedule was drawn up and followed. From September to December 2015, water restrictions and awareness efficiency measures became intense and were sternly enforced by WUC as the water crisis intensified. This included rules restricting the use of freshwater for purposes like filling swimming pools, construction, car washing and gardening. The use of hoses has been banned since 2007. Educational campaigns to change peoples’ attitudes towards the use of water also intensified. Gaborone became a city

characterised by ‘water shedding’, where water supply in each location of Gaborone and greater Gaborone was rationed according to a schedule, and the flow and use of water were monitored in Gaborone and Greater Gaborone. On some days water was shut down as a way of controlling and monitoring its use. Some locations experienced even longer periods of water rationing, with more than one respondent reporting no water supply for up to five days a week (Respondents 15GR, S; 19GR, S; 22GR, S).

Given these circumstances, water could not be used for any other activity apart from essential human needs like bathing, drinking, cooking etc. and this was only if water had been collected and

stored. Before the water shortage crisis, people were using freshwater for bathing, drinking, cooking, etc. as well as every household activities including gardening, car washing and sprinkling water on the compound surface (to reduce dust) to prepare for the cleaning of the yard.

Everyone was affected by water shortage in Gaborone but the shortage varied according to location. However, during the early months of the intermittent supply period (table 4.2), residents complained about lack of communication on what was happening with water in the city; they could wake up to find that there is no water flow from taps before they could prepare themselves. Residents

complained through radio stations and the water authorities responded by publicizing water rationing schedules. By mid-2015 (between April and August), everyone in the inner city knew the days they were not going to get water most of the time. In late 2015, during the extreme water shortage period, however, the concerns continued that there were still some instances where water authorities would cut the flow of water without prior knowledge of the public and sometimes the rationing was inconsistent. Table 4.2 summarises the timing and nature of the water crisis. Table 4.2: Water shortage, periods and characteristics

Periods and timelines

Characteristics/description of the period

Pre-crisis -Period before 2015.

-Normal water availability (ostensibly abundant). Intermittent

supply period

-Early 2015 to August 2015.

-Irregular water supply with rationing and restrictions.

-Water rationing schedule drawn up and followed (normally 2 days a week for each location).

-No proper water rationing communication during the early months of this period.

Extreme water shortage period

-September to December 2015

- Worst period with water rationing, restrictions and cuts -Inconsistent water rationing (up to 5 or more days a week) -Frequent water cuts without prior knowledge of the residents.

-Inconsistent information on water rationing and cuts (sometimes people would be told that water will be cut on certain dates and locations but it would be cut on different dates and locations, not the ones notified).

-All areas of the city were dry most of the time (water not available most of the time).

-People seen roaming around the streets with water containers in search of water and some trying to get water from streams found along the road and in the city.

-Purchasing of both bottled water from supermarkets and ‘borehole’ water from private water sellers (trucks seen everywhere selling water).

The researcher was in Gaborone during December 2015 and observed much of what was occurring above.

Post-crisis -Period when data collection was conducted (April end to June end 2016). -Water was reasonably available (abundant) and no rationing (water flow was back to normal).

Block 3 industrial, the government enclave and some other government organisations (Central Investigation Department (CID) in Bontleng) were cited by respondents as rarely rationed. When contacted for clarity on why water rationing was not even across the city, the government water official interviewed (Respondent 1GD, G) explained the scenario in two ways:

 WUC had made a plan that because people would be out at their respective work places during the day, residential areas would be rationed during working hours and focus of the supply would be where people will be. These are places like the business area, the

government enclave and industries where people are, but back home in the residential areas, the pressure would be low.

 Water was rationed to improve the supply. The practical implication of rationing water by closing off the water coming from the reservoir is that water flows to the lowest point in the system, so people at the lower points benefit since there will always be water in the pipeline in the lowest areas. According to respondent 1GD, G, this is the reason why some people were always having water while others did not, not because the organisation chose to allow some people to have water and others not, it happened because of gravity. His statement is in accordance with some respondents’ that water rationing is not a good solution because there is no equity-people at locations furthest from reservoir were more likely to have continuous access to water.

The other reason could be that there was lack of pressure to force pump water to go through which could also double the problem, hence there was need for water flushing through the system. In summary, the government deliberately sent water to workplaces in order to direct what was available to the most useful locations during the day. Further, people at higher elevations

experienced more water problems than those at lower ones, and they experienced shortages earlier than those at lower elevations. When the system was refilled the residents at lower elevations benefited faster. There was a difference in proximity, not all neighbourhoods had the same level of unreliable supply.