Unregulated water extraction riles residents
MOUNT PLEASANT HEIGHTS residents have raised the red flag over unregulated extraction of underground water in their community by some local bottled water companies for commercial purposes.
Residents say the indiscriminate extraction is depleting underground water reservoirs. This is leaving the residents without a reliable source of safe water.
The community largely depends on boreholes for clean water.
“We have a challenge of companies harvesting water from Pomona, lots of it daily. This is now affecting our boreholes,” said Mount Pleasant Heights Residents Association chairperson Dr Tapera Chikandiwa.
“We are receiving daily complaints from irate residents whose boreholes are drying up as a result of this water extraction.”
He said the anticipated drought this season was likely to worsen their predicament.
“Regardless of whether the extraction is licensed or unlicensed, the act of extracting underground water from a residential area for commercial purposes is seen as unlawful, as it directly deprives residents of their water source.
“The City of Harare bears the primary responsibility of ensuring the provision of safe water, but it has failed to meet this obligation consistently. As a result, many residents have had to rely on underground water sources,” he added.
Dr Chikandiwa said residents want a comprehensive report from an underground water expert outlining the potential impact and extent of the water extraction in their neighbourhood.
“There have been discussions about seeking a (court) interdict to halt the unregulated water extraction.
“Additionally, engaging with the upper Manyame catchment area, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and the relevant ministry has been suggested as a potential course of action,” he said.
Zinwa head of corporate communications and marketing Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said the water authority will investigate the matter.
“We license all bulk water extraction companies and all those who extract water are licensed by the authority,” she said.
“However, whenever residents suspect that a company is operating illegally, they must take the vehicle registration numbers and report to Zinwa.
“We do the regulation and we know how much water every licensed water extraction company is harvesting underground.
“In the case of Mount Pleasant Heights, we are going to send our inspectors so that we deal with any cases of illegal water extraction activities.
“Currently, water tables are deep, so that may be the reason residents are being affected, but since it is now raining, the situation is going to normalise.”