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Dry taps force residents to consume unsafe water
The Herald (Zimbabwe)
April 20, 2005

http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?id=42665&pubdate=2005-04-20

THERE has been no water supply to some sections of Tafara, Mabvuku and Prospect in Waterfalls for the past two days, forcing residents to resort to using unsafe water from shallow wells for household consumption.

Some of the affected residents told The Herald yesterday that they feared an outbreak of waterborne diseases if the situation was not resolved soon.

Mr Voster Muzavazi of New Mabvuku said the supplies in the area were abruptly cut without warning on Monday morning.

"Up to now there is no water and we don’t know when the supplies will resume," he said.

Mrs Sarah Chivizhe of New Tafara, who said only a few drops of water were trickling from the taps, echoed Mr Muzavazi’s sentiments.

She urged the city authorities to find a lasting solution to the now perennial water problems faced by residents in the eastern suburbs.

Harare City Council introduced water rationing in the north-eastern and southern suburbs about a week ago in a bid to boost dwindling levels in the city’s major reservoirs.

Director of works Mr Psychology Chiwanga recently said due to persistent water shortages in the eastern suburbs, the Commission running the affairs of Harare City Council had implemented a water demand management exercise.

The city is currently facing shortages of Ecol 2000, an oxidising agent used to destroy algae (chlorophyll containing organisms) which clog filters at Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant.

In a related matter, Glen View residents are complaining of running stomachs and headaches because they allege they are drinking dirty water supplied by Harare City Council.

In separate interviews, the residents said they were now boiling drinking water but another unforeseen problem had arisen from that measure.

"The water gets thick and forms into a viscous compound when we boil it," said Mrs Betty Makura.

Mr Chiwanga said no report had been lodged with his office over the state of the water.

"He said his staff would investigate and report appropriately.

After receiving numerous calls from residents of the suburb, The Herald yesterday visited Glen View to investigate and found that the water coming from the taps had impurities.

Mrs Makura said the problem had been going on for almost a fortnight. She said five people at her house were suffering from severe stomachaches as a result.

Another resident, Mrs Rachel Simango, concurred, adding that residents had resigned themselves to the hope that the water would come out clean on one of the days.

"Last weekend the water was brownish. We had to throw away a lot of it," she said.

Mr Mabasa Kadzimwe from the same area said he had a running stomach but could not pinpoint the cause.

He only became aware that the water had impurities after neighbours alerted him.

Four other people at his house also complained of the same problem.

Mrs Nyarai Tandi and Mrs Bridget Keta also complained that the dirty water was causing stomach upsets with children affected the most.

The residents said to compound the problem of the contaminated water, supplies were not reliable.

The Herald is reliably informed that problems with the city’s water emanate from a shortage of water treatment chemicals.

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