90% of Bulawayo water samples test negative for faecal coliform: BCC

Bulawayo City Council says 90 percent of water samples collected during routine testing were found to be free of faecal coliforms, according to the latest report on water quality and environmental pollution.


The report notes that Director of Health Services, Edwin Mzingwane Sibanda, confirmed that 67 routine bacteriological samples were collected from designated points and sent to Criterion Laboratory for analysis.

“Results for 52 samples were received and 15 were still pending. Out of the 52 water samples, 47 (90%) were negative for faecal coliforms, 35 (67%) were satisfactory with respect to non‑faecal coliforms, and 49 (94%) samples were satisfactory with respect to total plate count,” the report reads.

“Overall, 30 (58%) of the samples were satisfactory with negative results for the three parameters (total plate count, total coliform and faecal coliform). The 52 samples were also tested for pH and turbidity and were found to be 100% satisfactory for the two parameters.”