Page 15 - WATER SECTOR MAGAZINE VOLUME 3

Using renewable energy for

sustainable water supply

such moments the solar system provides alternative to learning a lot from Thames Water,” said Mtawali.
By MWAKAMWERETI KANJO power ensuring continuous water supply.
WATERAID MALAWI WaterAid Malawi Country Director Mercy Masoo
He said: “Hospitals and other key strategic said the project has demonstrated that it is possible
Sustainable water supply has been made possible institutions are assured of continuous water supply to have continuous water supply with alternative
in Mponela with the installation of MK42million even during hydro-power outages. The idea here is energy. With an energy-stressed country like
worth of solar panels. The panels provide a back that we will draw some data and lessons from this Malawi, solar power system will go a long way in
up to hydro-electricity in pumping water for the and from there we should be able to comfortably ensuring that everyone everywhere has water all
small town. scale up to other pumps. We have seen the the time.
improvements in Mponela and we believe this is
WaterAid under the Increased and Improved the way to go.” “Malawi has a lot of sun. We have been struggling
WASH in Small Towns Project with funding with hydro-power and here is a solution as
from Thames Water in the UK, supported Central Adding to this, CRWB Director of Finance and demonstrated by this project with support from
Region Water Board (CRWB) with the installation Administration Ernest Mtawali said, with the Thames Water. Our problems in this area are not
of the solar panels. panels, CRWB is making savings of almost 40 % going away soon so solar energy is the way to go.
on power for their operations in Mponela. This has This is something that we will be profiling because
One set of panels is connected to a surface pump led to sustained revenue base and a possibility of we have seen that it works,” said Masoo.
and another set to a submersible pump to ensure supply coverage increase. Over a period, he said,
that even without hydro-power people still have the savings will allow the board to scale up to other According to the National Water Policy (2005), the
access to water. On a sunny day, the solar system areas that need similar support. Water Sector Vision is “Water and Sanitation for
pumps 1.6litres of water per second to a supply All, Always.” To realize this vision, and in order
tank that is 1.5km away from the CRWB pump “I just want to say that Thames Water came at for Malawi to meet the Sustainable Development
station. The system has been operational since the right time. The relationship has benefited Goals’ target 6.1 (on water), water utility companies
April 2017. us in terms of fulfilling the plans that we have should scale up this initiative since evidence on the
had to improve safe water supply and looking at ground shows that hydro-power supply cannot be
Director of Technical Services at CRWB John the investments that they have done, it is really relied upon. If scaled up, the initiative will lead
Makwenda said there are already tangible and substantial and will lead to sustainable water to sustained revenue base and increased supply
visible benefits derived from the system. He said supply. There are so many prospects in the future coverage.
Mponela has erratic electric power supply and in from this relationship and we are looking forward

Such solar panels can be vital in powering water pumping and supply

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