13/09/2024
*Cowdray Park residents resort to using sewer water amid water crisis*
By CITE
Residents of Cowdray Park in Ward 15 have resorted to using sewer water for flushing toilets and other menial tasks as Bulawayo’s water crisis deepens.
Residents say the available water sources are insufficient to meet household needs, forcing them to turn to unsafe alternatives.
In an interview, Charles Ben, Resident Representative for Sections 15B and 16, expressed concern over the health risks posed by the water sources residents are now using.
“What is happening in our community is disheartening. On several occasions, I’ve seen children collecting water from a burst sewer pipe. When I ask them, they say their parents sent them to fetch the water for flushing toilets and other chores,” Ben said.
“Some of those using this water are businesspeople who mould bricks. They don’t have access to running water, so they use whatever is available.”
During a visit to the burst sewer pipe, news crew found a brick moulder using the contaminated water. Speaking anonymously, the moulder acknowledged the health risks but cited the dire water shortage’s impact on their livelihood.
“Houses are being built around here, and the demand for bricks is high, but there’s no water. This is our source of income; we have families to feed. We know this water might affect our health, but what other choice do we have?” he said.
Ben explained that the main challenge in the community is the lack of sufficient water sources. They rely on a single borehole, which is shallow and slow to replenish.
“We only have one borehole, and it’s quite shallow. You can only pump about two buckets of water at a time before waiting 30 to 45 minutes for the water to resurface. Imagine if you have many buckets and there’s a long queue,” Ben said.
