Chitungwiza water contaminated

By Charlotte Musarurwa

Chitungwiza’s water supply crisis is set to worsen amid a revelation that the groundwater most households rely on is contaminated, forcing the municipality to order residents to use borehole water for non-consumptive purposes only. 

This, in turn, has triggered the proliferation of youngsters who are selling communal borehole water at US$1 for 60 litres. Bowser owners are also invariably selling the precious commodity at R2 for 20 litres.

In an interview last week, Town Clerk Mr George Makunde attributed the contamination to poor waste management and incessant sewage flow.

He said his council abandoned plans to drill more boreholes to address perennial water shortages after a due diligence exercise by the health and environment departments.

He said the water supply problems were likely to worsen, adding that residents should seek council permission to sink boreholes and wells.

“Our preliminary investigations show that the points we had earmarked for borehole-drilling have contaminated underground water, which is unsuitable for human consumption. Borehole water can be used for other domestic purposes, not drinking.

“The only short-term plan is to drill boreholes, but the contamination levels are so high. The population in Chitungwiza has become so large and waste management has not been carried out properly to sustain the environment. It is also an area with sandy soils.

“As a municipality, we urge all Chitungwiza residents to first seek authority to dig wells. At the moment, the problem is that inasmuch as we want a new source of water, we do not have one. We are looking forward to the construction of a dam, as the President said in his speech during the Official Opening of the First Session of the Eighth Parliament.”

Residents interviewed on Friday implored authorities to intervene urgently to avert a health disaster.

Mrs Chipo Chiperesa of Zengeza 1 said many residents did not have any option except to turn to the condemned water.

“We are receiving running water once a week. Long queues have become the order of the day. What is even worse is that some of those who have boreholes are now demanding money before anyone fetches water at their home.

“The situation poses a serious threat to our health. Some people are being forced to use dirty water which might result in them contracting diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Something must be done to improve the water situation.”

Another resident, Ms Esnath Rusere of Zengeza 3, said a good number of residents were now relying on unprotected water sources.

“Some people are turning to unprotected sources. The ‘enterprising’ ones are also selling from water bowsers at R2 for 20 litres. It sounds like real drama, but it is reality.”

Harare Water Department director Engineer Christopher Zvobgo said although the city continues to supply Chitungwiza, breakdowns at Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant hampered the smooth flow of supplies.

“The water which goes to Chitungwiza comes from the Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant. It is shared among Chitungwiza, Manyame, Hatfield and the Airport area. Supplies are reduced due to losses along the way.

“Sometimes we have to back-feed the water from Morton Jaffray Water Works to Warren then to Letombo then back to Chitungwiza. In Harare alone, the water is not even enough to meet the demand of the population, which is why we have to ration.”

Chitungwiza has been facing continued water problems owing to inconsistent supplies from Harare whose old water treatment plant equipment poses numerous challenges. Most parts of the satellite town receive running water once a week and largely rely on boreholes and wells.

Speaking at the Official Opening of the First Session of the Eighth Parliament last week, President Mugabe said Harare City Council would collaborate with an identified partner to implement a revamped water service delivery plan.

Three dams and additional water treatment plants are expected to be constructed over seven years. Sunday Mail