Harare, (New Ziana) – Some local authorities have started regulating the installation of water storage tank stands in their jurisdictions as the structures have become booby traps for people.
While most local authorities have by-laws which prohibit such fittings on stands below 300 square metres, residents have largely neglected approaching their local councils when installing water storage tanks necessitated by the acute shortage of potable water in most urban centres.
Enforcement of the by-laws has also been lax. The Rusape Town Council on Monday notified residents of the introduction of a policy to regulate the installation of water tank stands within its area of jurisdiction.
“Rusape Town Council has noted with concern the proliferation of substandard water tank stands which are posing a great risk to the inhabitants, infrastructure and community in general,” read the notice.
“All water storage tanks with a capacity of 5 000 litres or more must be certified if the tank stand is two metres or more above ground level. Property owners with existing tank stands must regularise their structures by having them structurally certified on or before January 31 May 2025.”
Residents will be required to pay US$20 for the submission of the certificate of the tank stands to the local authority. They are also encouraged to engage qualified structural engineers to inspect and certify their tank stands with non-compliance attracting penalties and other enforcement actions.
Three fatalities have been recorded as a result of the collapse of the illegally installed water storage tanks.
Two children died in Chitungwiza in October 2020 when a neighbour’s tank collapsed on three of them as they played outside. The third child survived with a fractured leg.
In February 2021, a five-year-old Chinhoyi girl died under similar circumstances while her parents and elder brother suffered serious injuries.
New Ziana