Harare, (New Ziana)-The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) on Monday said it has launched a nationwide operation targeting illegal bulk water dealers as part of efforts to restore order and safeguard public health.

The authority said the blitz follows a surge in complaints over unauthorized bulk water abstraction and delivery activities in various towns, which poses serious health risks and violates national water regulations.

The operation is being carried out under Statutory Instrument 90 of 2013, which governs the operations of bulk water businesses in Zimbabwe. Under the law, all bulk water dealers including borehole operators and water delivery truckers are required to register with ZINWA.

The law also prohibits the abstraction of raw water from residential areas without express authorization.

“ZINWA is empowered to randomly collect and test water samples from bulk water sources and delivery trucks to ensure compliance with water quality standards,” said Marjorie Munyonga, head of corporate communications and marketing at ZINWA.

She said as part of the campaign, ZINWA will be working with law enforcement agencies and other relevant authorities to ensure compliance and enforce penalties where necessary.

Munyonga said bulk water dealers, including owners of boreholes from which bulk water is abstracted, have an obligation to maintain proper records of water abstractions from their sites.

“Bulk water dealers are strongly advised to fully cooperate with ZINWA teams during this operation while the public can also report illegal or any suspected illegal bulk water activities to ZINWA. “This exercise is about protecting consumers and ensuring that water supplied in bulk is safe and properly regulated,” she explained.

The failure by many local authorities in the country to supply portable water to residents has result in the flourishing of the bulk business and the drilling of community boreholes in residential, with the attendant health risks as some of the water sources are not safe.

New Ziana