Revolutionary Water Project Brings Hope to Rural Malawi
The Thazima Gravity Piped Water Supply Scheme promises to bring an end to the water crisis in the area and improve the lives of thousands of people.
RUMPHI, Malawi - Thazima Gravity Piped Water Supply Scheme, a transformative clean water initiative, is set to soon revolutionize life for thousands in remote villages near Malawi's Nyika National Park, writes Tionge Hara.
The Thazima Gravity Piped Water Supply Scheme, a multi-million project [construction cost of USD 4,476,738.68 and a supervision consultant contract amount of Euro 335,840.00] funded by Germany's KfW development bank, will provide reliable and sustainable water access to rural communities that previously lacked clean water.
The project aims not just to deliver water, but to empower generations to come.
It targets 18,000 people by 2024, and 33,000 by 2044, in villages within 5 kilometers of Nyika-Vwaza conservation areas.
The areas fall under Traditional Authorities Chikulamayembe in Rumphi District and Mpherembe in Mzimba District.
The scheme will pipe water directly to people's homes.
This will alleviate the need to walk miles to collect water from rivers and wells.
Each household will get up to 2.5 liters per day.
For these remote communities, such ready water access represents a revolution in daily life.
Women and children previously spent hours each day fetching water. Now water will flow from taps in their family compounds.
This will free up time for more productive tasks. It is also a major health boon, as villagers often contracted water-borne diseases from contaminated water sources.
The Peace Parks Foundation and Transfrontier Conservation Area Management Unit are overseeing the project, with German technical support.
Construction began in 2023, with completion eyed for June 2024 after some pipe delivery delays.
According to H.E Jackson North Regional Manager, Timothy Betrand, who is overseeing the construction works, the project is progressing well.
He stated, "Nine months after the project started, we have completed about 40.5% of the work. We have 5-6 months remaining. We are optimistic that we will finish the work on time."
Betrand also highlighted the project's features, saying, "So far, we have 96 pipeline sections total. We have finished about 50 sections and have 46 remaining. We have started work on the water treatment plant. The plant has a settling tank, clarifier, and sand filter. We have started the concrete work on those. There are also three clear water tanks distributed around the area to supply the clean water to communities. We have one tank up to roof height so far."
One of the significant advantages of the Thazima Gravity Piped Water Supply Scheme is its reliance on gravity-fed water supply, ensuring a consistent flow even during power outages.
Betrand emphasized, "The water source is very secure - it's a river that flows year-round from the park. We don't need to rely on pumping, it's all gravity-fed. So even with power outages, the water will keep flowing."
Regarding the project timeline, Betrand mentioned, "We have already applied for and received a 90-day no-cost extension. This means we won't be paid extra for the extra time on site, but we will be paid for the work we complete. We won't get reimbursed for time-related costs, only for the physical work done. The 90 days start from the end of the original contract period, which I believe was March 12th. The consultant has confirmed we can continue working until the June 12th target for practical completion."
Local officials have expressed their satisfaction with the progress of the project. Emmanuel Bulukutu, the District Commissioner of Rumphi District, commended the project's impact, stating, "I'm satisfied with the 45% completion according to the updated records compared to our last visit. It's great to see the stakeholders engaged and this project moving forward. It's an extremely important project that will benefit 18,000 households across two districts. With the $4 million investment from our partners, it will have a massive impact by providing sustainable, potable water access."
Senior Chief Mpherembe, in whose area the project is taking place, expressed his relief and optimism, saying, "I'm relieved to hear the update on the challenges and progress so far. Given the original February 2024 completion target, we were worried whether it would actually get done on time. But knowing where things stand now, I'm hopeful the project can be completed in the next 2-3 months and provide much-needed water access."
The Thazima Gravity Piped Water Supply Scheme promises to bring an end to the water crisis in the area and improve the lives of thousands of people.
With its innovative approach and commitment to sustainability, the project is poised to make a lasting impact on the rural communities of Malawi.