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Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent

A DIARRHOEA bug has reportedly hit Kwekwe City amid reports of contaminated water supplies as residents accuse the local authority of failing to effectively purify water.

Scores of people in the mining town have been visiting council clinics and other health institutions complaining about stomach problems.

Some have taken to social media platforms to blast the local authority while complaining about the colour, taste and smell of water on their taps.

“The water we are drinking is not safe at all. Please council do something because we are suffering from diarrhea,” said Hazel Manda James in a message sent to a group of Kwekwe residents.

Others joined, saying the council water was no longer safe for drinking.

“The water has a certain smell and taste, which is not usual,” said George Chipara on the same platform.

Another resident said his family had to seek medical attention after they suffered from diarrhea.

“At first, we thought we were reacting to food that we had consumed but when we told our neighbours they advised us that they were suffering the same fate as a result of water. We had to buy some medication from the pharmacy and that is when it stopped. We have resorted to buying purified water for drinking now,” said Mr Jimson Moyo.

Unconfirmed reports claim that raw sewer was allegedly flowing into Sebakwe Dam after sewer pumps broke down at the Dutchman’s Pool water treatment plant.

Acting Town Clerk Engineer John Mhike told stakeholders during a budget consultation meeting recently that council was having problems with a ‘rare’ type of soil that was not easy to purify.

Although he could not confirm about raw sewer finding its way into drinking water, he admitted that they were having challenges with their pumps due to vandalism.

“Most of our pumps that we use to pump raw sewer before treating it are broken down due to vandalism. We are therefore creating precast walls as a security measure and engaging a private security company to man the pumps before they are repaired,” he said.

“We are having problems with purifying our water due to mining activities that are contaminating our water. We are now seeing an unusual type of soil that is upstream of Sebakwe River and ends up flowing in Sebakwe Dam. We are not used to that type of soil but we are doing our best to ensure that our water is safe for consumption,” he said.

Eng Mhike, who is also the director of works, said the water produces a smell because they are using more chemicals (aluminum sulphate) to purify it.

He said the local authority was in the process of repairing old sewer pipes to avoid leakages and any negative eventuality.

Finance director Mrs Rejoice Dandira said the local authority always had a torrid time every rainy season as they require more chemicals to treat the water due to turbidity.

She said the local authority requires at least 30 tonnes of aluminum sulphate per three days translating to about US$56 000 to purify the water.

Under normal circumstances, 30 tonnes would last a month.

She said ratepayers were not helping the situation as they were not paying their dues.

“We have a tough time during the rainy season as we require more chemicals for water treatment due to turbidity. But as it is we are surviving from hand to mouth as a council and it is difficult for us to purchase the chemicals, which also require cash in USD,” said Mrs Dandira.