Lilongwe water supply set for gradual recovery after heavy rains

By Michael Martin//MALAWI

Government has assured residents of Lilongwe that water supply interruptions currently affecting the city are expected to ease within the next two days as conditions at key treatment facilities improve.

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Roza Fatch Mbilizi gave the assurance on Wednesday after inspecting Lilongwe Water Board installations that have been under pressure following recent heavy rainfall.

The capital has experienced erratic water supply in several areas after downpours affected raw water quality in the Lilongwe River, the city’s main source of water.

Mbilizi said authorities are fully aware of the inconvenience being faced by households and businesses, stressing that prolonged water shortages increase the risk of waterborne diseases.

She explained that heavy rains have significantly increased turbidity levels in the river, making it difficult for the Water Board to treat water efficiently.

According to the minister, excessive silt, mud and debris washed into the river have placed an abnormal load on treatment works, reducing their production capacity.

She said the situation had resulted in partial shutdowns and slower treatment processes at some facilities.

Mbilizi called on communities to stop cutting down trees along riverbanks, warning that deforestation is accelerating soil erosion and worsening siltation in water sources.

She emphasized that environmental degradation is directly undermining water abstraction and treatment, adding that long term solutions must include catchment protection.

In his remarks, Acting Chief Executive Officer for Lilongwe Water Board, Engineer Maclenan Nyangw’a, said the high sediment levels in the river had severely affected pumping and treatment operations.

Nyangw’a explained that over the past four days, heavy runoff from the catchment area carried debris that clogged intake systems and disrupted pumping equipment.

He said the rising river levels submerged some equipment, reducing pump efficiency and further constraining water production.

At the treatment plants, he added, filters and other components were overwhelmed by sediment, leading to reduced output.

Nyangw’a said the Water Board is implementing immediate remedial measures while also pursuing long term interventions to prevent similar disruptions.

These include catchment management programmes and technical studies to enable direct conveyance of water from the dam to treatment plants.

He said such infrastructure improvements would help shield treatment processes from fluctuations in river conditions caused by extreme weather.

Nyangw’a expressed confidence that production levels will steadily improve as river conditions stabilize.

He said customers should begin to notice gradual restoration of water supply within the next 48 hours.

The Lilongwe Water Board has assured the public that technical teams are working around the clock to normalise supply.

The utility has also reiterated its commitment to strengthening systems and environmental safeguards to ensure more reliable water services in the future.