Water contamination detected in Bulawayo suburbs

 The Bulawayo City Council has released its latest water quality monitoring results, revealing that while the majority of water samples met acceptable safety standards, contamination was detected in several suburbs, raising concerns over possible sewage intrusion into parts of the city's water system.

Presenting the Water Quality Monitoring and Environmental Pollution Report on June 5, director of health services Edwin Mzingwane Sibanda said 131 water samples were collected and submitted to Criterion Laboratory for bacteriological analysis.

Overall, 69% of the samples complied with acceptable water quality standards.

The report showed that 92.3% of samples tested satisfactory for faecal coliforms, 83.2% were free from non-faecal coliforms, while 80.1% met the required standards for total coliform counts.

However, faecal coliform contamination — a key indicator of sewage pollution — was detected at several locations, including Magwegwe Clinic, Zimtile, Luveve Cemetery, Cowdray Park and AR1 Sewage Waterford.

Non-faecal coliform bacteria were identified at 22 sites, including Emakhandeni, Mtshingwe Primary School, Cowdray Park, Lalani Hotel, Riverside, Waterford and Aisleby Primary School, among other community and institutional water points.

The report also recorded elevated bacterial loads, reflected by high plate count results, at 23 locations including Emganwini, Pumula South, Nketa Fire Station, Luveve Clinic, Cowdray Park and Northend Pool.

Council also investigated complaints of discoloured and turbid drinking water in Cowdray Park.

Laboratory tests on eight samples collected from the suburb found that four tested positive for non-faecal coliforms, two were contaminated with faecal coliforms and three recorded high total colony counts, prompting authorities to intensify monitoring in the area.

Follow-up tests conducted in Emganwini showed improved water quality, with samples returning negative results for both faecal and non-faecal coliforms after earlier concerns over possible sewer contamination.

As part of broader public health monitoring, council conducted 17 sanitary inspections at alternative water sources, including boreholes.

Officials reported that the surroundings of 15 inspected water points were in satisfactory condition, while communities were educated on safe water handling, storage and hygiene practices.

Environmental health officers also carried out inspections at schools and conducted waste management awareness programmes that reached about 3,400 learners at Mhali, Nkanyezi, Mafakela, Mawaba and Josiah primary schools.

All the inspected schools were connected to municipal water supplies, although Nkanyezi Primary School was advised to improve the storage of disused furniture to enhance environmental health standards.

Meanwhile, council collected two sewage effluent samples from Richmond and Cowdray Park sentinel sites for laboratory testing as part of routine poliovirus surveillance aimed at detecting the virus in wastewater.

The local authority said routine water quality monitoring, environmental surveillance and public health education remain key measures in preventing outbreaks of waterborne diseases across the city.

The report was subsequently received and noted by council.