Gweru residents face 3-day water shortage

Gweru residents have been without water for three days after a major pipe burst disrupted the city's main supply, forcing many to seek alternative sources that may be unsafe.

Gweru City Council spokesperson Ms Vimbai Chingwaramusee confirmed that the outage stems from a significant burst along the mainline supplying water from the Gwenhoro treatment plant. "We have a serious major burst pipe along our mainline from Gwenhoro dam," she said, noting that the council has been dealing with challenges in the city's water reticulation system in recent weeks.

Ms Chingwaramusee explained that increased pressure on the water system has contributed to the repeated pipe failures. "We are experiencing water burst pipes on the mainline due to several factors, including high pressure. Increased water pressure can put additional stress on pipes, leading to bursts," she said.

The council is currently working to identify and repair affected areas while implementing measures aimed at preventing future occurrences. Residents have been urged to exercise caution when sourcing water from alternative sources until the main supply is fully restored.