daniel chigunwe
Paul Pindani in CHINHOYI
RESIDENTS in Chinhoyi have resorted to buying bottled water after losing faith in the quality of drinking water being pumped by the local authority.
However, the local authority, stung by the uproar from the residents, council released a press statement to douse the flames of the misinformation.
In a press release on the state of water in the town, council said it had come to its attention that there is news doing the rounds that council is distributing raw water to its valued residents and stakeholders.
“Contrary to the misinformation, we do not distribute raw water through our network system. We also do intermittent water quality tests to determine suitability for consumption, “ said council.
It said all laboratory tests indicate that the water quality is satisfactory.
“ What has changed is the turbidity that has risen from the previous one of less than 1 but not greater than 5 as required.
“In fact, its between its between less than one to just below 3 which makes our water suitable for all your preferred uses,” said the local authority.
Council said it regretted the misinformation that has caused dissonance within the community.
“We will always strive to distribute portable water under the prescribed range for both pH and turbidity.”
Bottled water has suddenly become a popular product in supermarkets amid claims that council water is contaminated with raw sewage.
Talent Chongwe, of Brundish said she was worried by the colour of the water being distributed by the local authority.
Chongwe said she fears a potential health time bomb exploding in the city due to the quality of the water.
“The water being distributed by council is not safe and good for human consumption. It’s greenish in colour, “ said Chongwe.
She suspects that raw sewage from White City might be flowing into Hunyani river, hence the colour and quality of the water.
“Council does not need a rocket scientist to tell them them raw sewage is being discharged into the river thereby exposing residents to waterborne diseases such as cholera, “ said Chongwe.
She urged the council to value the health and safety of residents as water is a basic right.
Maudy Kudenga from Cold Stream , told H- Metro that she was shocked by the colour of the water.
“I was shocked last week when I woke up to see that the colour of the water was greenish.
“At first I thought I was dreaming but then asked a neighbor who also confirmed that indeed the water had a greenish color,” said Kudenga.
Environmental Management Agency’s Provincial Publicity and Education Officer, Munyaradzi Nhariswa, said they will check on the latest results on the quality of the water.
John Kaseke said the local authority failed to use layman’s language in their press statement addressing the issue.
Provincial Medical Director, Doctor Celestine Dhege, told H-Metro, that he was not yet aware of the problem.
“The best to comment first would be Director of health services for Chinhoyi municipality.
“ As the ministry of health we will investigate,” said Dhege.
Online Reporter