BCC investigates suspected water contamination in Tshabalala

Bulawayo City Council (BCC) IS investigating reports of suspected water contamination in Tshabalala after residents complained of smelly water coming from their taps.

The City of Bulawayo confirmed that the complaints, which emerged on Monday last week, were linked to sewer blockages and a water leakage near Mondela Beer Garden.

City sewer teams responded the following day, prioritising the issue at 7529/25 Tshabalala, which was suspected to be affecting the quality of drinking water. Additional sewer blockages in the area, including those near Indlovu Youth Centre and Mondela Beer Garden, were also cleared.

“Water teams kept the water lines under pressure to prevent sewage from entering the system,” the Town Clerk Christopher Dube said in a statement. “Once the blockages were cleared, leaks in the water network were sealed, and inline chlorination was carried out to maintain public health safety.”

Water samples have since been taken for laboratory testing, and authorities have advised residents not to drink tap water until final results are available.

“The community, through the Ward Councillor, has been informed to avoid drinking the water pending final testing,” Dube said.

As a precautionary measure, a water bowser has been dispatched to provide safe drinking water, and the city’s water quality team were expected to conduct final testing on Monday.

The city has also acknowledged that Tshabalala experiences recurrent sewer blockages and has identified it as a hotspot for urgent maintenance. Investigations last year revealed a 130-metre underground sewer pipe breakage, which contributed to sand and debris clogging the system.

“A truckload of sand, rags, bottles, and bones was removed, showing high system misuse,” Dube stated.

Efforts to rehabilitate the damaged sewer infrastructure are ongoing, with the site scheduled for repairs once the city’s contractor completes work in Tegela. Meanwhile, authorities are investigating illegal waste disposal practices, with backyard kitchens in shopping centres identified as potential contributors to sewer misuse.