Chitown needs water first: Councillor

By ALBERT MASAKA

A lack of adequate and continuous water supply that is underscored by frequent sewage outflows and recurring sewage pipe bursts is the major cause of Chitungwiza’s perennial sanitation problems.

Councillor Watmore Muchairi said this during the last full council meeting

The perennial bursting of pipes and outflows of raw sewage in the third most urban populated city in Zimbabwe were due to old and strained water and sewer infrastructure capacity.

“Our sewer pipes are very old. As for the challenges we are facing, I am sure that everyone in this chamber understands that sewer and water work hand in glove. As long as we don’t have water I don’t think we will overcome that issue.

“Because each sewer line is designed if you see 100mm diameter pipe, 150mm  diameter pipe, 300mm diameter 5, 450mm diameter trunk and so on and so forth it have water that it must contain to give it what is called self-cleansing velocity that will make it clean itself on its own.”

 Cllr Muchairi added that the sewer system is under strain due to siltation. “This is causing an increase in siltation in our lines which are also rotten. That is why that company failed because of siltation and there was no adequate or continuous flow of water.

 “Let’s not think that the engineering department has failed to do its job yet we have a big elephant in the room that we should also need to look into.

“That’s why we are seeking all these investors it’s because we want them to address the issue of water to solve the perennial sewer problems”

Muchairi likened the recent work by council of upgrading trunk lines to that of building septic tanks.

“If we finish work on the trunk line as long as we don’t have continuous flow of water it will accumulate silt and cause blockages again.

“If we are to look at the monthly report from public works since January they are clocking more than 1 000 blockages a month then we disappoint them saying they are not working people.”

He added that the sewer pipes are dilapidated and laden with silt resulting in a recurrence of bursts. Chitungwiza faces the perennial challenge of poor water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) service delivery.

Its sewerage infrastructure is overwhelmed, resulting in overspills of effluent.