Online Reporter
Chronicle Writer
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has warned residents of Tshabalala suburb not to drink tap water in the area owing to a suspected case of water contamination following a leakage from overflowing sewerage.
The water contamination was first reported by residents in Tshabalala areas of Mondela Beer Garden and Tshabalala Extension, who reported smelly water coming out of their taps.
A water bowser has since been dispatched by council to supply water in the affected areas and residents have been instructed not to drink tap water pending final testing.
“The community, through the Ward Councillor, has been advised not to drink the water pending final testing after completion of the repairs and flushing of the water system,” reads a statement issued yesterday.
“Water supplies are currently open to allow for continuous flushing of the system and final testing by the Water Quality team.
“On Monday, March 10, 2025 in Tshabalala areas of Mondela Beer Garden and Tshabalala Extension, there were reports of smelly water coming out of the taps. The reports highlighted a sewer blockage and overflowing sewers behind Mondela Beer Garden and a water leakage at the same place,”
The following day, council sewer teams responded to a sewer blockage at 7529/25 Tshabalala.
“This fault was prioritised ahead of other faults as it was suspected to be linked with poor quality of drinking water in the area. Other blockages in the vicinity (64647 Tshabalala, Indlovu Youth Centre, Mondela Beer Garden) were also cleared in co-ordination with water teams who kept the water lines under pressure to avoid ingress of sewage into the water lines,” said council.
To maintain public healthy safety, council said its teams conducted inline chlorination in addition to monitored flushing of the system after completion of the repairs.
The teams continue with investigation and close monitoring of the reported possible contamination cases, said the local authority, adding that water samples have been taken to a laboratory for analysis.
Meanwhile, an exercise to identify system misusers is being carried out with backyard kitchens in the shopping centres being the probable culprits for throwing bones into the sewer system.
Council has noted that the area has been enlisted as one of the hotspots to be attended by contractors under the ongoing Framework Agreement of clearing of sewer blockages.
A total of 130 metres of pipes will be replaced after investigations conducted last year indicated ingress of silt showing an underground pipe breakage.
“A truck load of sand together with rags, bottles and bones were removed, showing that there is also a high system misuse exacerbating the situation,” said council.
