This problem is more severe in larger urban areas like Lusaka with its many unplanned settlements where boreholes are often in very close proximity to septic tanks and pit latrines. However, this has had negative effects on both the quantity and quality of groundwater in Zambia. Until now, groundwater was not regulated in Zambia. Groundwater management to prevent a future health crisisĭespite Zambia’s high dependency on groundwater – approximately 60 to 70% – its importance is often underestimated because of the nature of this valuable resource. Of course, the community right for drinking water and ensuring sufficient flow to maintain the environmental values needs to be sacrosanct. Paying for water illustrates the value of the resources and connects measurements to protect future access. According to a report by the Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute, economy-wide annual losses due to load shedding in Zambia amount to K32.5 billion (representing 18.8 % of GDP) while losses to the agriculture sector are estimated at K2.83 billion (representing 1.6 % of GDP). As a result, the country continues to experience low water levels causing load shedding of electricity, consequently adversely affecting production. In addition effects of climate change already have had a serious negative impact on Zambia’s water resources availability, mainly due to inadequate water resources infrastructure and management. According to SADC, 14 percent of the total annual renewable water resources in the SADC region are stored, compared to 70-90 percent in most industrialised regions. Water management as part of a sustainable futureĪccording to the Seventh National Development Plan 2017-2021, there is a strong correlation between economic growth, industrial growth and water consumption. Therefore, water must be managed by an independent authority to ensure equitable access for all user groups and prevent further conflicts. However, in Zambia conflicts are already evident between the competing water uses households, commercial agriculture, hydropower and mining. Water is also an economic good in that it contributes to the prosperity of a nation. The agreement was signed during the council of ministers held at Kariba in Siavonga recently.Access to water is a basic human right which is often threatened when the resource is not properly managed and not available in sufficient quantities and/or quality. Zambia and Zimbabwe signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to team up and start the Batoka hydropower project which is estimated to cost about US$4 billion. He said once all these processes were completed, ZRA would then be able to select the developer for the project, after which the authority would be able to come up with the actual value of the project. Mr Munodawfa said consultants were currently working on other processes and thereafter the project committee which include senior Government officials, utilities and ZRA would visit the project this month.
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He said the finalisation of the study and the EIA was expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2015.
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The study on the demo structure, power house structure and the capacity output on the project has been completed,’’ Mr Munodawafa said. ‘‘We have reviewed the Batoka Hydropower Station feasibility study. Mr Munodawafa said the authority was currently waiting for the second phase of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). ZRA chief executive officer Munyaradzi Munodawafa said in an interview yesterday that the review on the demo structure, power house and capacity output on the project had been completed. THE Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has said the feasibility study on the Batoka Hydropower Station has been reviewed.