By Correspondent
Successive years of drought and farming activities in areas near Lake Chivero’s water sources have been cited as reasons for the polluted state of Harare water.
Presenting before the Harare Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday, Council Director of Water Phakamile Mabhena said more rains will alleviate this situation.
“The state of affairs is such that due to successive years of drought our lake has not spilled and the pollutants have accumulated.
Mabhena said they hoped that the rains will come and Harare will have better quality of water.
“The water that we treat and leaves Morton Jaffray is safe and adheres to normal standards of water safety.
“We are treating the water to the required standards using more chemical.
Sources of Pollution
According to Mabhena the sources of pollution are far and wide.
He cited areas such as Ruwa, Chitungwiza and Harare itself.
“The major pollutants are nitrates and phosphates as we have farming activities near the lake.
Mabhena has called for joint efforts involving EMA, Metropolitan Government and Council to deal with issues around Lake Chivero.
Council is also currently engaging various inter-Ministerial units for joint operations.
Years Of Pollution
Formerly known as Lake McIlwaine, Chivero was built in 1952 to provide water for a city of 500,000 residents.
Over time, it became a hub for recreational boating, fishing and tourism.
However, as Harare’s population ballooned to more than two million, the lake’s capacity to support this growth faltered.
According to the Daily Maverick, “the first domino fell when city officials sold off wetlands essential for filtering greywater from Harare’s sewage plants.
These wetlands had supported pastures and fed cattle, creating a sustainable ecosystem.
Without this natural filtration system, untreated sewage began flowing directly into the lake.
As a result, about 415 megalitres of untreated sewage are being discharged into the country’s environment daily.
Harare alone contributes about half of that.
Once 28 metres deep, the lake now holds just 18 metres of water due to sediment buildup and pollution.
