Gweru residents get sewer contaminated tap water

Residents of Old Ascot suburb in Gweru have stopped using municipal tap water after alleging that the supply has been contaminated with sewage.

The problem has reportedly persisted for about three weeks, with residents complaining of a strong sewage smell coming from their taps.

Ward 8 councillor Jackos Manyanga confirmed that the problem was genuine and advised residents to use borehole water while council technical teams work to establish and resolve the cause.

"Residents should, for now, rely on borehole water while council works on the problem," Manyanga said.

He suggested that boreholes recently drilled by some residents could be interfering with existing water connections, potentially resulting in the mixing of sewer and potable water.

Gweru City Council has reportedly collected water samples from affected households for testing as investigations into the source of the contamination continue.

Residents said the condition of the water had made it unsuitable for normal household use.

One resident said the sewage odour was so strong that it could be detected from a distance and remained on the body after bathing.

"The water smells from a distance. When you bathe, the smell remains on your body. We can only use it to water the garden because we cannot use it for other household purposes," the resident said.

Two other residents, who requested anonymity, said they had been forced to boil the municipal water before using it for cooking and drinking.

The reports have raised concerns over the potential health risks associated with continued use of contaminated water, particularly for drinking, cooking and bathing.

Manyanga said council technical teams were attending to the problem and expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved soon.

Until the source of the contamination has been established and the water confirmed safe, residents have been urged to rely on alternative water sources.