Harare, (New Ziana) -The Harare City Council has assured residents, particularly in Highfields and Mabvuku, that the discoloured water coming out of the taps is not harmful and they should not panic.
“The discolouration is due to sludge being pushed from reservoirs that have not been supplied with water for the past two days,” it said in a public notice issued at the weekend.
The council said the system was being flushed, and the reservoir cleaning process would begin immediately.
In the meantime, the local authority advised residents to use the water for non-potable purposes, such as watering gardens and laundry.
Harare City Council Mayor, Jacob Mafume addressed the issue during a press conference, emphasizing that the city’s water treatment processes met World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
“The water that is coming out of our taps is safe for human consumption,” he said.
“We treat water that comes from Lake Chivero and Lake Manyame thoroughly to ensure that we don’t put in our system water that is contaminated or harmful to the residents.”
Despite these assurances, residents have reported tap water that appears dirty, emits a sewage-like odor, and is sometimes pitch-black in color.
The complaints have been particularly prevalent throughout December up to now, leading to public outcry and demands for immediate action.
Lake Chivero, the primary source of Harare’s drinking water, has been identified as highly contaminated due to industrial waste and leaking sewer pipes. The pollution has not only affected human consumption but has also led to environmental disasters.
In mid-December, four white rhinos and thousands of fish perished after consuming bacteria-polluted water from the lake. Residents have taken to social media to share photographs and videos of the discolored and foul-smelling tap water, expressing their frustration and health concerns.
In response, Mafume acknowledged the city’s ongoing water pollution challenges but maintained that the water supplied is safe. The city’s water purification facility, the Morton Jaffrey plant, operates at a maximum capacity of 750 megaliters per day, which is only half of Harare’s daily demand of 1,400 megaliters. The shortfall has led to inconsistent water supply and quality issues across various suburbs.
Additionally, the Environmental Management Agency of Zimbabwe has stated that the city discharges approximately 219 megaliters of raw and partially treated sewage into the environment daily, exacerbating the contamination of water sources.
The water crisis in Harare is not a recent development as history shows that both colonial and postcolonial administrations have struggled to provide adequate water services to the city’s residents.
Factors such as rapid urban population growth, aging infrastructure, and political interference have compounded the challenges in water distribution and quality management.
In 2017, similar issues arose when residents directed their anger at then mayor Benard Manyenyeni during a public meeting, complaining about muddy, colored, and smelly drinking water. Some parts of the capital city had gone for weeks or months with dry taps, despite above-normal rainfall in Zimbabwe that season.
The current situation in Hatfield and Mabvuku reflects ongoing systemic issues within Harare’s water management framework.
While the city council emphasizes that treated water meets safety standards, the persistent reports of discolored and malodorous tap water suggest that more comprehensive measures are necessary to address the root causes of contamination.
Public health experts advise residents to continue boiling tap water before use and to report any irregularities in water quality to local authorities promptly.
Addressing the broader infrastructural and environmental challenges will require sustained efforts and collaboration between municipal authorities, environmental agencies, and the community at large.
As the city navigates these challenges, transparency and proactive communication from the council will be crucial in restoring public trust and ensuring the health and safety of the residents.
New Ziana
