Discoloured Tap Water In Bulawayo Is Safe To Drink, Says Council

Residents and local stakeholders in parts of Bulawayo have raised concerns over discoloured water coming from their taps.

On Saturday, 7 February, Bulawayo Town Clerk Christopher Dube confirmed that the council has received the reports.

He said that regular operational checks and laboratory tests show that most chemical aspects of the water, including pH, conductivity and alkalinity, are within safe limits. Added Dube:

“The main concern is increased turbidity, which affects the appearance of the water, causing discolouration.

“Although this affects how the water looks, the City is working to improve clarity.

“The main cause of the discolouration is due to high turbidity in the raw water coming from uMzingwane Dam, especially after recent rains.

“Heavy rainfall can make it harder for treatment processes to work efficiently.

“Under these conditions, some treatment processes such as sedimentation and sludge removal are more difficult.

“This has caused leftover sediments to move within the system. As a result, consumers might see discolouration or occasional odour at consumer taps.”

Dube said the City of Bulawayo is addressing the problem by closely monitoring the water system, flushing affected areas to remove residual sediments and restore clarity, improving sedimentation and sludge removal through maintenance and upgrades, and rapidly acquiring equipment and parts to make the treatment plant more efficient, particularly during periods of high turbidity.

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