Nearly half of the routine water samples collected in January in Bulawayo failed to meet key bacteriological standards, raising concerns over the quality of water being supplied to residents.
According to the latest council minutes from the Bulawayo City Council, only 48 percent of the 88 water samples tested were deemed satisfactory across the three core bacteriological parameters , namely total plate count, total coliforms and faecal coliforms.
The report further noted that 19 samples tested positive for faecal coliforms, including samples collected from schools, clinics and commercial sites, which could pose a potential health risk if not addressed.
Chairperson of the Future Water Supplies and Action Committee, Ward 10 councillor Khalazani Ndlovu, said residents had complained about moving organisms in their water soon after supplies were restored following periods of water shedding.
According to media reports, residents from Nketa 9, Emganwini, Pumula South, Old Pumula, Magwegwe and Nguboyenja, among other areas, had raised these concerns through residents’ associations.
Residents reported that the water would at times be smelly, discoloured and muddy. Some said that when the water was stored in containers, particles would settle at the bottom and later form slimy-looking substances.
However, Christopher Dube, the Town Clerk, maintained that the water supplied to residents was treated in line with international standards.
“The water cleaning process was guided by World Health Organization standards. After water shedding the water reticulation system was flushed to remove all the impurities caused by reactions. This was compulsory,” the minutes quoted Dube as saying.
In February, the local authority issued a statement acknowledging that it had received reports from residents and other stakeholders regarding the quality of water.
The council said operational monitoring and laboratory tests indicated that most chemical aspects of the water, including pH, conductivity and alkalinity, were within safe limits, although increased turbidity remained a concern.
Turbidity refers to the cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles such as silt, clay, organic matter and microorganisms, which scatter light and affect the appearance of the water.
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