Eastern Water and Sewerage Company is owed about 8.2 million Kwacha in unpaid water bills by customers in Eastern Province.
Managing Director, Lyton Kanowa says that more than 60 per cent of the owed amount is by clients in Chipata district.
Mr. Kanowa says that this has seriously affected operations of the company to an extent, where it is struggling to pay electricity bills, resulting in ZESCO disconnecting supply to its offices.
Speaking during a radio programme on Breeze FM this morning, Mr. Kanowa also stated that accumulated effects of climate change, which have affected the rainfall pattern in the last two years, have affected operations at Lutembwe Dam Two.
He says that apart from Lutembwe Dam 2 being silted, the plant should have stopped spilling in September but it stopped spilling four months ago due to low water levels.
And the Ministry of Local Government and Housing has committed itself to facilitate the expansion of Dam Two water treatment plant.
Mr. Kanowa says that a consultant is currently on the ground to do a detailed study and design of the replica plant and prepare tender documents.
He says that the company hopes to advertise for the construction of the replica plant at Lutembwe Dam two water treatment plant by October.
Meanwhile government owes Eastern Water and Sewerage Company about 4.2 million kwacha in unpaid water bills.
Eastern Water and Sewerage Company Director Lytone Kanowa confirmed in an interview with journalists this morning.
Mr. Kanowa says half of the debt that the government owes is coming from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He says that although government promised to pay the debt, the response has not been good adding that this money is needed for other operations.
The director says his office has continued pursuing the matter through the office of the permanent secretary and Ministry of Local Government and Housing in Lusaka so that the debt is cleared.