AS the sun’s rays start licking the horizon of a community nestled in a wetland area, the sounds of daily life are already in full swing.
Residents, mostly women, emerge from their homes before dawn, carrying baskets of laundry and empty buckets, making their way to the local well.
This early morning ritual is a necessity, as the well serves as their primary source of water for washing clothes and bathing.
The well is in Zengeza 4, Chitungwiza, amid a wetland’s lush vegetation.
However, its proximity to flowing sewage poses significant health risks, making their task a delicate balance between necessity and caution.
“We have no option except to fetch water from this well because the taps are dry. It’s now almost a month since Chitungwiza Municipality provided running water to our houses,” says Anna Tareva (42) of Zengeza.
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“This is my second year coming to this well to do laundry. Circumstances are forcing me.
“Those with mobile water bowsers who provide clean water are too expensive as they sell eight buckets for US$1.
“We cannot afford that amount for a family of six as it lasts only two days.
“I just come here to wash all the dirty clothes and go home.”
A stone’s throw away from Chitungwiza Municipality head office, residents frequent the well on a daily basis.
NewsDay also established that some of the people who fetch water from the well, particularly children, drink it.
“I have come here to fetch water for bathing and washing clothes, but sometimes we see children drinking it, which is not healthy. It’s happening without our knowledge, that I am sure of.
“We are appealing to council to provide us with tap water at least once a week, maybe the situation would be better because we are at risk of contracting waterborne diseases,” says a woman accompanied by her two daughters.
Chitungwiza Residents Trust (Chitrest) director Alice Kuvheya concurs that residents are bearing the brunt of council’s failure, adding that they end up resorting to fetching water from unsafe sources.
“The issue of water is problematic, particularly to women and girls. They are being abused at boreholes,” she says.
“The most complicated thing now is that there are water barons selling water even from public boreholes, where everyone is supposed to get their allocation for free.
“It’s a very bad situation, especially in a town like Chitungwiza, which has a population of more than half a million people, the only urban area in Zimbabwe operating without a dam.”
Adds Kuvheya: “As Chitrest, we are still advocating for the construction of a dam for Chitungwiza so that residents can have their own source of water.”
Says Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike: “Environmental conditions underlie many of the common health problems in Zimbabwe, including diarrhoeal diseases. This makes access to safe water, safe sanitation and hygienic [WATSAN] waste disposal fundamental for health.
“What is of concern is that the unreliable water supplies, along with cut-offs for prolonged periods in urban areas, mean that people are not accessing adequate water from their taps, thereby resorting to unsafe shallow wells.
“The perennial water shortages and poor water quality put people’s health at risk.”
Adds Kuvheya: “Local authorities have a very clear mandate on WATSAN, but as you heard the ‘official announcement’ some few weeks ago in the aftermath of the Chitungwiza kombi tragedy, a city official saying households with funerals will be availed with water.
“So to us, this is a clear indication that even at that level, there is no clarity why adequate safe water and sanitation should be provided and yet it’s the golden prevention strategy.
“The historical cholera outbreak of 2008-9 started in Unit O, Seke, Chitungwiza, due to water starvation and yet the local authority, like the rest of urban areas, has not yet improved on the execution of their WATSAN mandate.”
Under these difficult conditions coupled with poor service delivery, Chitungwiza Municipality urges residents to fetch water from clean sources.
“We acknowledge the concerns around some residents resorting to unsafe water sources. Council is actively working to ensure that every resident has access to safe, clean water.
“We strongly urge residents to draw water only from safe and tested sources. Where purchasing is necessary, they must buy from trusted and certified suppliers to avoid exposing themselves to water-borne diseases,” says Chitungwiza Municipality spokesperson Tafadzwa Kachiko.
“Late last year and earlier this year, Chitungwiza faced critical a water shortage, receiving as little as one to three megalitres per day — far below the daily demand of at least 70 megalitres.
“However, the situation has significantly improved. We are now receiving between 13 and 14 megalitres daily, depending on electricity availability. This water is supplied through rationing and is safe for consumption.”
He adds: “Our health department is actively conducting community health education campaigns to promote hygiene and prevent the spread of water-borne diseases.
“To supplement our supply, we have maintained existing boreholes and, through partnerships, drilled new ones to ensure continued access to clean water.
“We have ongoing sewer rehabilitation projects that will help to reduce contamination risks. We recognise that broken sewer lines and illegal connections threaten both surface and underground water sources.
“Finally, through improved waste management practices, we are working to minimise pollution of wetlands and groundwater, which is essential to protecting public health.
“Council remains committed to restoring and sustaining and reliable water services and protecting our residents from preventable health risks.”
Well water analysis tests carried out at Glohe-Sci in Greendale, Harare, showed that it does not meet the recommended standards for safe drinking water.
Several critical parameters are outside the safe limits, indicating potential health risks if consumed.
The most significant issues are related to microbial contamination and high levels of certain minerals and ions.
“The water is not safe for drinking without treatment,” the test results revealed.
“The absence of faecal bacteria is positive, but it does not guarantee the water is free from other pathogens (like viruses or protozoa).
“The chemical imbalances are severe enough to render the water non-potable.
“The water, especially as is, should not be used for drinking or cooking.”
Despite the challenges posed by lack of tap water, residents have adapted to their situation, finding ways to make do with the resources available to them.
Their resilience and determination are a testament to the community’s strength and resourcefulness in the face of adversity.
However, their problem also underscores the need for sustainable solutions to address the water challenges faced by the community.