Consumption of borehole water ‘ illegal’

FOR the last couple of years, the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) could have been forcing city residents to break its own by-laws as it has emerged that consumption of borehole water from any of the local authority’s boreholes is both unsafe and illegal.

An investigation by the Sunday News revealed that residents could be exposed to unsafe borehole water while at the same time flouting city council by-laws. The local authority has further declared that it won’t be held liable for any ailments resulting from consumption of borehole water. Ironically residents have been encouraged to resort to borehole water whenever the city is faced with a water crisis. The city faced a water crisis in December which saw residents going for 72 hours without water. The local authority initially drilled boreholes in almost every high density suburb to give residents an alternative source of water during times of water shortage.

Sunday News managed to take some borehole water samples to the National University of Science and Technology’s department of Applied Biology and Biochemistry where it was revealed that although the water had bacteria, the quantities were below the Standard Association of Zimbabwe recommended maximum limit.

The results revealed that the water contains 16 colony forming units per millilitre with the SAZ Standard 560:1997 recommended maximum limit being pegged at 100 colony forming units per milliliter, making the water safe for consumption.

The lab specifically tested for total bacterial count, coliform count and feacal coliforms where the water was said not to contain any coliform count or feacal coliforms. However, the three tests performed do not include tests for chemical and physical ingridients which are equally important in water quality assurance.

Investigations by this publication revealed that according to the council by-laws (Sections 44 and 45 Sewerage, drainage and water) no person shall consume water from a borehole and in the event that they use this water it should be approved by a health officer appointed by the local authority.

“No person shall use water from a borehole for drinking purposes or for watering animals . . . the owner or occupier of any stand to which a supply of municipal water is not available and in respect of which water from a borehole is used for domestic purposes shall, at all times, comply with the requirements of the medical officer of health appointed by the council with regard to such water.

“No person shall cause or permit any water derived from a borehole or other source, including the council’s raw and reclaimed water supplies to enter any pipe connected with the council’s domestic water supply.

The council’s domestic water supply system shall not be connected to any pipe or system of pipes which themselves are fed with water from a borehole or other source,” reads part of the by-law.

According to the latest council report, the city’s director of engineering services, Engineer Simela Dube noted that a total of 244 boreholes were in working order. He however, revealed that they had been sampled for testing in 2016.

“Bacteriological quality of borehole water cannot be guaranteed since the water was untreated and subject to contamination at any time from environmental factors like sewer overflows and bacteriologically contaminated soil. Residents were therefore advised to boil borehole water before drinking,” said the director.

Sunday News also caught up with a water quality expert, Engineer Khonzaphi Dube, a chemical engineer by profession and member of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) who noted that it was virtually impossible for anyone to fully determine whether borehole water was 100 percent safe. He said it was unfortunate that in many cities, sewer bursts are a common sight, and many households now rely on borehole water due to the frequent and sometimes lengthy periods of interruption in the supply of treated piped water.

“Water from boreholes is generally perceived to be “clean” and free from pathogenic bacteria, suspended matter and other harmful constituents. Ground water mainly comes from rainwater, and as the water percolates through the soil, it goes through several physical, chemical and biological processes, which to a certain extent, purify the water.

“However, when it comes to removing microorganisms, the filtering capacity of the soil is not fool proof as it only traps particularly larger bacteria and protozoa. This dismisses the notion that borehole water is safe as it still contains micro-organisms of public health significance.

“The quality of the ground water is affected by the anthropogenic (human) and natural activities occurring in the catchment of the borehole. This is why most municipalities do not encourage the use of boreholes as a source for drinking water in urban settings as there is a higher density of contaminant sources, such as haphazard dumping and burning of household waste and exposure to sewerage and industrial wastewaters,” said Eng Dube.

He said of particular concern is the contamination of drinking water with sewage water, where he noted that sewage contains a variety of contaminants such as nitrates, pharmaceuticals, metals, detergents, salts and bacteria.

“Contamination of ground water by sewage can occur from raw sewage overflow, septic tanks, leaking sewer lines, land application of sludge and partially treated waste water. Sanitation engineers often test ground water for contaminants and in the case suspected sewage contamination; a good indicator is the testing of total coliforms and faecal coliforms.

“In animals the coliforms aide in the digestion of food. Although coliforms are harmless, except for a rare strain called E.coli, the presence of coliforms especially faecal coliforms, means that other pathogenic organisms could be present in the contaminated water. Drinking of such water can lead to cramps and diarrhoea,” said Eng Dube.

Questioned on how and when can water be deemed safe for consumption, Eng Dube said there were international standards that were in force, which regulatory institutions adhered to.

“Water is deemed safe for drinking when its quality parameters — chemical, physical and bacterial — complies with the permissible levels published by the World Health Organisation,” said Eng Dube.

According to the World Health Organisation; “The various WHO guidelines (Guidelines for drinking water quality, Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater and excreta in agriculture and aquaculture and Guidelines for safe recreational water environments) have been developed in isolation from one another. However, their common primary quality concern is for health hazards derived from excreta. Addressing their specific areas of concern together will tend to support better health protection and highlight the value of interventions directed at sources of pollution, which may otherwise be undervalued.”

A Government analyst (laboratory) in the Ministry of Health and Child Care said with the advent of industrialisation it was essential that borehole water was noted of its possible dangers hence the importance of this water being analysed first before domestic use.

“Evidence has always proven that underground water can be contaminated at any stage, especially in the era of industrialisation where excess chemicals find their way into the water. There is also the likelihood of sewage seepage.

“The risk of consuming borehole water that is contaminated is that this water could contain faecal matter, which transmits diseases such as typhoid and cholera. However, common among a host of health complications that result from continuously drinking water contaminated by chemicals is dental fluorosis or mottling of tooth enamel.

Over the years the teeth become yellow in colour,” said the expert.

A former engineer with the local authority’s engineering services said while borehole water could be considered safe if not located in areas free from contamination, the situation was unique in Bulawayo as most of its sewer infrastructure was now obsolete hence there were chances of underground sewer contamination.

“Boreholes are generally a safe source of drinking water if they are located in areas free from contaminants such as bacteria, nitrates, metals, salts and toxic materials. In urban areas where raw sewage is either conveyed by underground pipes in high density areas and in lower density areas disposed in septic tanks it is important that the authorities regularly test and advise the public on the quality of the borehole water on a regular basis.

He noted that it was key that municipalities that have infrastructure as old as 50 years conduct periodic public boreholes tests and inspections of sewer mains especially outfall sewers which convey industrial wastes and septic tanks sited in the vicinity of public boreholes as a preventative measure to avoid disease outbreaks.

The local authority’s spokesperson, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu, also admitted that borehole water was not safe. She said although it is checked for quality council could not guarantee its safety.

“Council conducts borehole water testing to check for tepidity, alkalinity and bacteriological quality is checked although this cannot be guaranteed as the water is untreated and subject to contamination anytime from environmental factors. Borehole water is not treated and therefore not safe for human consumption as it is subject to contamination at any time due to environmental factors such as seepage of sewerage or contaminated runoff. The City of Bulawayo advises residents to consume municipal water,” said Mrs Mpofu.

The local authority’s spokesperson said the best way to avoid any eventualities was to hold awareness campaigns within the wards, especially during a water crisis period, encouraging residents that in the case that they have to use borehole water they had to first boil it.

Bulawayo United Residents Association chairperson, Mr Winos Dube said it was worrying that the local authority would continue exposing residents to borehole water when they knew that there was a danger in consuming it.

“I believe what is needed is for the local authority to increase their awareness campaigns ensuring that residents are made aware of the dangers of consuming borehole water, without at least boiling it. One has to realise that when the local authority initially drilled these boreholes in the western suburbs, the understanding was that these could be used as an alternative water source hence I believe the council owes it to residents to explain to them the dangers associated with consuming this water mainly considering that this is a time where we have a number of sewer bursts in the city hence free flowing sewer that can sip to contaminate underground water,” said Mr Dube.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association’s programmes co-ordinator, Mr Rodrick Fayayo concurred with Mr Dube noting that there was a need for the local authority to consider the importance of water to residents hence the need for them to avail such crucial information to residents.

“Water as we all know is a basic human right hence I believe the local authority must thoroughly guard against exposing residents to a clear health risk, despite holding awareness campaigns they must ensure that they address such issues as sewer bursts to help prevent free flowing sewer contaminating the underground water,” said Mr Fayayo.

According to a study conducted at the University of East Anglia, England, children who drink from contaminated water supplies are almost five times more likely to contract stomach infections which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. The study showed that while adults drinking from sources containing waterborne bacteria appeared to be relatively unaffected, under-10s were at a much greater risk.

Professor Paul Hunter who led the study is quoted saying: “This is a serious concern. As well as children being more at risk, they also suffer the most from an episode of diarrhoea — with greater rates of hospitalisation and higher mortality rates.

“It is very important that households reliant on private water supplies, where children under 10 live or visit, are identified and frequently tested for pollution.

“Our recommendation to parents is to either ensure adequate well-maintained treatment such as chlorination, boiling or filtration, or provide alternate sources such as drinking bottled water.”

This article was published with support from the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe’s Investigative Journalism Fund WE WAKEUP everyday to newly coined trending hashtags, which are sexist and are obviously absorbed normal because it’s women who have created them.

Our society has chosen to turn a blind eye to reality as it pounds everyday that gender mainstreaming is creating a new hierarchy, a system that is quickly oppressing men, a mechanism which is totally avoiding equality and equity but successfully condoning what I call sexual hypocrisy. The society we live in today is choosing to turn a cataract ogle to a looming predicament which insults men and finds it ok, ignores that women are human more than they are women hence their impurity is just like those of trashy men. I say this knowingly that rehearsed feminists will call me sexist and insensitive but they have to know the truth, some societal problems are generation specific and when you try to force that historic narrative on the young generation, you are recreating the same problem, however, with a new balance.

My analysis this week will focus on a woman who proves that lumping people or painting them with the same brush is not just and sensible. It defies any empirical logic, otherwise streetwise or philosophical. If society concludes that all men are trash because case studies of trash men have proven so, then case studies of some women should justify the same insult. Not all women are angels like our mothers, they are worse off than the trash men we grieve about daily. This however, is not justification enough to hate and insult our mothers just because some women are bad elements in society, however, “powerful” they have become. When they deceive those who have given them power, we don’t lash out at all women; we meekly call them out as rogue citizens in parliament. We say to them “guqula izenzo” like the slogan they have been chanting for 17 years surely testifying that they have changed their act from being honest democrats to being either thieves, gangsters, bandits or bourgeoisie in their sniffed comfort of power.

One is in the frame of a beautiful but scandalous Dorcas Sibanda, the National House of Assembly representative of Bulawayo Central, a single mother, a businesswoman who has been in Parliament for almost 10 years. She is the serendipitous anecdotal irony of the virtues of “omama bakaDokha” (SDA women of the order of St Dorcas). Unequivocally, she is nowhere close to a replica of virtuous women from SDA yet her name bears the guidance which binds these women. Many of you would testify that our mothers usually clad in green and white are an emblem of love, care, honesty and selflessness. I remember the days when HIV/Aids was the biggest employer in Zimbabwe, the home-based care givers were mostly those women-“omama bakaDokha”. Despite such a beatified meaning enclosed and weighing in that name, our Dorcas seems to have a penchant for media attention, albeit for dramatic reasons. Reasons alienating her from the fondness associated with motherhood, all reasons despising our collective belief that women leaders have a feminine flair absent in our aggressively patriarchal politics. She is a more bad macho man herself. More banditry than most gangster politicians I know. Suffer Suffer Suffer for what? na yo

fault be dat . . . Just last week she was refusing to pay a suffering and scrounging hairdresser her paltry $25 after a sterling job on her daughter. Such a stunt of inviting police to the scene who later discovered that she was wrong are nothing else than a remarkable display of dishonesty by a mother who is ungrateful on Mothers’ Day. Not only does she refuse to pay but claims that her daughter had been unlawfully detained. How on earth does such a woman continue going back to Parliament unchecked? Firstly, she is the one who dropped her daughter at the hairdresser promising to come and pick her up and pay yet she expects that the “suffering” ought to irresponsibly release the daughter of her client without her consent. This is a daughter I am talking about; you don’t just release someone’s daughter yet the parent showed you how concerned she is about her daughter’s whereabouts and company by driving her to you specifically. Secondly, she had breached an agreement of pay as you go, contrary to an agreed minute-long mobile transfer she had promised. Here is a ZOU undergraduate of Media Studies dragging for an hour only to be coerced to pay, even less than she owes and screams that her daughter has been violated, how on earth do we see integrity in a mother who embarrasses her lovely daughter on Mothers’ day?