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Herald Reporter
Harare City Council says the water it pumps into homes meets World Health Organisation (WHO) standards and is safe to drink, despite the presence of high organic loading of phosphates and nitrates in the raw water it draws from Lake Chivero.

The city’s corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme yesterday said Harare uses seven chemicals to purify the water to acceptable levels.

“The quality of raw water in Lake Chivero and Manyame has undoubtedly deteriorated over the years owing to various factors which include pollution, disposal of raw sewage and untreated industrial waste into our water bodies,” he said.

“Council is seeking funding to rehabilitate waste water plants to increase treatment capacity and reduce environmental pollution. We are still waiting for the remainder of the $72 million from the $144 million Chinese loan which was supposed to address those issues.”

Harare City Council has been cited as one of the major polluters as it discharges raw and untreated sewage into its main water source, Lake   Chivero.

Mr Chideme said Harare residents should can rest assured that with the chemicals the city is using, the treated water is safe for human consumption and meets WHO standards.

“Our compliance level stands at 96 percent. Our water also complies with the Standards Association of Zimbabwe guidelines and standards. We are working with the ministries of Water and Local Government for the water supply augmentation, a plan which encompasses the construction of Kunzvi and Musami dams.”

Mr Chideme said Lake Chivero was downstream hence it was prone to pollution from various sources.

Environmental Management Agency environmental education and publicity manager Ms Amkela Sidanke said water from the lake indicated consistent high organic loading of phosphates and nitrates definitely from municipal sewerage.

“EMA is mandated to carry out ambient water monitoring; meaning the quality of water existing in the surrounding area, in this case of environmental conditions. However, safety of treated water can be possibly determined by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare,” she    said.

“Thus results from water samples grabbed upstream and downstream of Lake Chivero for monthly ambient water monitoring indicate consistent high organic loading of phosphates and nitrates definitely from municipal sewage. This has contributed to the proliferation of water hyacinth in the lake.”

Council uses sulphuric acid for pH correction, powdered activated carbon for colour removal and organics, aluminium sulphate for removal of dissolved solids, sodium silicate as a coagulant, hydrated lime for pH correction, HTH for algae removal and chlorine gas for disinfection.

A recent study by the City of Harare and EMA revealed that the main contaminants are sulphuric acid, caustic soda, ammonium salts, phosphates and sulphates among other organic substances.