KWEKWE mayor Shadreck Tobaiwa has assured residents that council will continue to receive potable water despite the critical shortages of water treatment chemicals faced by the local authority.
REPORT BY OWN CORRESPONDENT
According to minutes of the city’s works and planning committee meeting held in November last year, Kwekwe City Council borrowed 120 tonnes of aluminum sulphate used for water treatment from unnamed sources after Unicef withdrew its support leaving council in dilemma.
“Yes, I can confirm that we are experiencing challenges in getting water treatment chemicals. Our major suppliers, Zimphos, at times run out of stock. We buy water chemicals from reputable and approved companies,” Tobaiwa said.
He conceded that at times residents received dirty water, but said this was due to heavy rains. He also blamed farmers cultivating along streambanks, for polluting the water.
“We receive water from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, but council is only able to treat 40% of this due to the heavy demand of the water treatment chemicals during the rainy season.
“We also experience power cuts at the water treatment plant resulting in council failing to supply water to residents.
“However, this is not very serious and I assure residents that they will receive clean water at all times,” he said.
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Tobaiwa added that council recently borrowed five tonnes of water chemicals from Sable Chemical Industries and two tonnes from Zimbabwe Iron and Smelting Company to mitigate the shortages.
He said people living in high areas may go without water for a few hours when council pumps low volumes but otherwise the situation was under control.
The local authority plans to procure a cost-saving alternative to aluminum sulphate.
In the past, Kwekwe was rated the best city in terms of clean and safe water.
