Harare water heavily polluted

The Harare residents could be drinking heavily polluted water as the local authority is struggling to test effluent discharged into the capital's drinking water sources.

Council has for the past three months estimating pollution levels and the amount of water treatment chemicals required to make it fit for human consumption.

According to Sunday Mail, council has not been following its own prescribed standards, and industries have been discharging effluent with a strength factor of up to 600 percent.

Water works director Engineer Christopher Zvobgo blamed the situation on a resources shortage.

"There was a shortage of vehicles. However, we have now bought new ones for the department and test the water at least once a month. So, that issue has now been rectified."

Only 279 companies out of a possible 5 057 were sampled in March 2014, with indications that the bulk of industries might be dumping toxins.

"The number of sampled companies is materially small (3,9) percent compared to the estimated potential of companies eligible for sampling.

"According to the chief chemist, for the month of March 2014, only 279 (of which 82 have closed shop) out of a possible 5 057 were sampled. Sampling of industrial effluent enables the city chemist to determine the level of toxicity of effluent discharged into the system. "The chief chemist attributed manpower and transport problems as inhibiting the sampling of a bigger fraction of effluent disposing companies,' council said.