Harare is owed more than US$60 million in water bills by satellite towns and Government, Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda has said. Mayor Masunda said Government owes council more than US$44 million,followed by Chitungwiza with US$12,6 million. Council sources said the remainder of the money is owed by Norton Town Council which owes US$1, 7 million, Ruwa Town Council with US$4 889 and Epworth Local Board US$733.

"This is affecting service delivery in the city. We have since requested at least US$16 million from the money Government owes us through Water Resources Development and Management Minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo. The money will be used to refurbish water supply pipes and to buy pressure reducing valves," Mayor Masunda said.

Pressure reducing valves are used to reduce pressure on water lost through burst pipes. The city requires between US$2,5 million and US$3 million monthly to buy water treatment chemicals. The US$60 million is sufficient to buy water treatment chemicals for a consecutive 20 months.

"The pressure reducing valves that can be installed at intermittent points on various distribution networks such that we can reduce leakages because that is where most of our water is lost."