The Sunday Mail
Urban councils countrywide are failing to provide residents with clean potable water due to increased pollution, results of a recent research have revealed.
A study led by University of Zimbabwe Professor Amon Murwira and other academics show that despite claims by various town councils that tap water is clean, the precious liquid is of poor quality.
“All major catchments in Zimbabwe have urban centres with sewage out pour ranging from tens of mega-litres to hundreds of mega-litres per day and most of it finds its way into surface water,” reads part of the report.
“Due to frequent sewer outbursts as well as direct discharge of raw or partially treated sewage into public waterways draining urban areas, urban water is generally poor.”
The Sunday Mail established that water sources were under stress and local authorities were failing to provide clean water due to failure to invest in water infrastructure.
Local authorities are expected to operate with a month’s supply of water treatment chemicals, but most councils only have a few days’ supplies.
As a result of the pollution burden, Harare City Council is reported to be using at least nine water treatment chemicals that cost up to US$2,6 million monthly.
Other cities such as Mutare and Bulawayo which have less polluted water only use two chemicals for water treatment.
A water management expert and an insider at one of the urban councils said contamination of water bodies occur almost on a daily basis due to a number of factors.
“A small percentage of sewage is being treated due to financial constraints faced by local authorities. Though some officials would want to label tap water as clean, I would not say it’s safe,” he said.
The expert said the sources of contamination are numerous, but the main ones include frequent sewer bursts, industrial effluents and alluvial mining.
Traditionally, local authorities have attempted to control point source pollution, but recent studies show that diffuse source pollution is now causing water quality degradation.
