Online Reporter
Trish Mukwazo and Nokuthaba Brita Ncube, Chronicle Writers
TSHABALALA residents have urged Bulawayo City Council to urgently address concerns over water contamination linked to a sewer leakage mix-up, in order to avert potential health hazards, as households struggle to access clean water for drinking and cooking.
The council has acknowledged that the contamination may have been caused by a sewer overflow behind Mondela Beer Garden, along with a water pipe leak that occurred on Monday.
The local authority has since advised residents in the area not to drink tap water until the test processes are finalised and the system is flushed to ensure public health safety.
Speaking to Chronicle yesterday, a concerned resident, Ms. Blessed Mushore, who lives just a few houses from Mondela Beer Garden, described the sewer overflow into her yard as a nightmare.
“It’s a traumatic experience. I constantly have to keep an eye on my children, who play near the dirty water leaking from the drains. Our daily routines have been interrupted because of the foul smells from the sewage,” she said.
Residents have accused the council of a delayed response, stating that they have reported the sewer problem several times without action.
Another resident, Mr Joseph Mapako, who lives with his elderly mother, explained that the frequent sewer bursts in the area were the cause of the contamination.
“It’s not easy for my mother, who has problems with her feet. She has to be cautious when visiting the toilet, which is outside the house, where polluted water from the sewers flows,” he said.
Residents added that while water was available from the taps, they had to boil it for drinking purposes, as many could not afford to buy purified water.
On Tuesday, the council announced that it had dispatched teams to assess the situation, decontaminate the water, and repair the burst pipes. The teams will continue with investigations and closely monitor the reported possible contamination cases. The local authority also confirmed that water samples have been sent for laboratory analysis.
Meanwhile, an exercise to identify system misusers is being carried out, with backyard kitchens in the shopping centres suspected of contributing to the problem by throwing bones into the sewer system.
The council has also noted that the area is one of the hotspots to be addressed by contractors under the ongoing Framework Agreement for clearing sewer blockages.
A total of 130 metres of pipes will be replaced after investigations conducted last year revealed the presence of silt, indicating an underground pipe breakage.
“A truckload of sand, rags, bottles, and bones were removed, showing that there is also significant system misuse exacerbating the situation,” said the council.
derick.khumalo