By Correspondent
Masvingo city council’s engineering department attends to an average of 300 sewer blockages monthly.
This was revealed by the Public Works and Planning Committee during a recent Full Council meeting.
The committee attributed the increase in blockages to poor refuse disposal methods by residents.
It said baby diapers, sanitary pads and solid grit were being put into drainage system.
“A total of two hundred and fifty-eight (258) blockages had been recorded and attended to.
“(Meanwhile) five hundred and seventy-five (575) wheelbarrows of grit had been removed from the grit channels.
“Two hundred and eighty-three (283) bins of waste were removed from the grit screens.”
The Committee agreed that a tour of the Sewage Treatment Plant and pump stations be carried out to familiarize Committee members with the liquid waste management process.
The committee added that the tour will enable councilors to educate residents on the best practises of waste disposal.
Masvingo was previously named in a report of Councils not effectively managing their sewer systems resulting in increased blockages.
The report by the Auditor General (AG), was titled Management of Sewage Systems by the Urban Local Authorities under the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
It also revealed that over half a million residents were infected by water borne diseases in six local authorities between January 2013 and June 2017.
