The Urban council villagers are facing a serious shortage of water due to the anticipated drought and water treatment plant maintenance. Lesotho Meteorological Services (LMS) anticipated El Nino weather pattern this summer. Since earlier this week, Water and Sewage Company (WASCO) has been making announcements informing the public about the water scarcity and upon realising its severity made a schedule-like to supply villages in groups - two villages per day.  WASCO further advised the public to store enough water while it is available until maintenance is completed.

In an interview with the, one of the villagers in Leropong, Mrs. Mats;episo Rantso said they have been battling with water scarcity for days. We were saved by rain on Monday but that was not for long as we found ourselves sharing what we managed to collect with our neighbours she said adding "I am worried because we need water to survive. Now my five children go to school with dirty clothes because we save the little we have for drinking and cooking. Ha Hlapalimane Chief Motala Ramoeletsi shared similar sentiments about their struggle with water scarcity adding some taps dried up. Now we walk close to an hour to fetch water.

WASCO Public Relations Manager, Mrs. Lineo Moqasa said WASCO is aware of the problem faced by villagers. It is not something new, but we work tirelessly with water committees to ensure our success to addressing this problem and soon our plant will be maintained for a better production because once it rain(ed), water treatment is a challenge.

Meanwhile, the LMS seasonal climate outlook (rainfall and temperature) from September 2023 to March 2024 indicates below normal rainfall for the whole country during September to January.  However, LMS further shows that the December to March 2024 season indicates above normal rainfall.