HARARE - The Norton Town Council has started constructing a $19 million water plant set to benefit the town’s estimated 100 000 residents.

Council chairperson, Albert Zinyemba said work on the water project had started after the contractor was paid his deposit and the project is expected to last for three months.

On completion, the water reservoir will have a capacity of pumping 40 mega litres into Norton town daily.

 Currently, the town has been getting its water supplies from the City of Harare and it owes the Harare municipality over $1,5 million for unpaid water supplies.

The water project was approved by Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, the minister of Water Resources, Development and Management last year.

Zinyemba said Norton residents and businesses utilised 20 mega litres of water a day and the surplus of 20 mega litres they get from the 40 mega litres will be sold to the City of Harare and Zimplats in Selous.

A separate water plant with a capacity to pump out five mega litres will also be installed in the town soon. This is after the MDC-controlled council sought assistance from a Germany organisation, GIZ.

 The plant is expected to get its water from Darwendale Dam bringing the total water capacity generated by Norton Town Council to 45 mega litres.

Zinyemba said the town had also acquired Railway Farm 30 for use as a dumping site and a cemetery.  The farm measures 500 hectares.

The existing cemetery is running out of space while the council was using ex-Hunyani lagoons for its dumping purposes. - Staff Writer