Harare faces acute water shortage

The Harare City Council has issued an urgent notice warning residents of the capital city about an impending water shortage due to a natural phenomenon known as a "lake turn" occurring at Lake Chivero, the city's primary water supply dam.

In a statement, Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango explained that the lake turn phenomenon began affecting water supplies starting Tuesday night. A lake turn typically occurs when there is a sudden change in weather, such as the arrival of a cold front, causing warmer water at the bottom of the lake to rise to the surface.

Chisango clarified, "This phenomenon brings dirty water to the abstraction point (the level where water is drawn from the lake to the treatment works for treatment)."

To address the situation, the council had to temporarily shut down the water treatment plant to make necessary adjustments to the abstraction levels, ensuring the intake of higher-quality raw water for treatment.

In light of the water shortage, residents were advised to use the available water supply sparingly while these adjustments are being carried out.