Suburban
SOME Mt Pleasant residents have gone for periods as long as 14 years without council tap water, a City of Harare pre-budget meeting for Ward 17 has heard.
Suburban Reporter
The meeting, held virtually this week, was moderated by Mt Pleasant district officer Mrs Marian Mverechena and the water crisis was easily one of the major talking points of the Ward 17 pre-budget meeting.
The non-availability of council tap water was dominant among issues brought to the attention of council officials by residents with nine roads in Mt Pleasant and Vainona cited as last having council tap water in 2007 and 2008.
Residents from Mt Pleasant Heights also complained they were facing serious water woes in their neighbourhood. Ward 17 covers Mt Pleasant, Northwood, Groombridge, Vainona, Mt Pleasant Heights and some parts of Borrowdale West.
Residents from the area around Brent Road and Alpes Road, Granta, Edinburgh, Thames, Fowey, Fal, Bryden, Lyn and Norfolk Roads confirmed they last received council tap water nearly a decade and a half ago.
“May I please find out on the current status of water. I live on Granta Road and we haven’t had water since 2007. Is there any work in progress as it seems some people on Glenelg have water?” said a Mt Pleasant resident.
Those from Bryden Road said they last got council tap water in May 2007 while those on Fal Road in Vainona have not had council tap water for the past decade.
“Can you please update us on what you are doing on the water situation for some of us who have not had water since 2007 please? Now even the boreholes have dried up and we are having to buy water,” inquired a resident.
Residents said they hoped council appreciated the fact that some of the money which they were using to buy water could have been finding its way to the municipality’s coffers, if it was providing services.
“But I hope council appreciates that if we are having to buy water . . . it becomes a choice between buying water and paying council bills for non-existing services. My choice obviously is buying water,” observed a resident.
One resident from Edinburgh Road said they were nearing almost 19 years without council tap water.
“(I) think most of Edinburgh Road has not had water. Personally on our place we over 15 years, possibly closer to 19 years now.”
Vainona residents complained that for 10 years they have been reporting the non-availability of water in some sections of the suburb to no avail.
“Fal Road has had no water for 10 years. My complaints over this time have been ignored. What is the point of me even troubling to write this message?” said a Vainona resident.
The situation was similar with residents in the area around Brent Road and Alpes Road who said they have been reporting to council the water problems with no joy coming their way.
“I have had no city council water for years now. I have made several appeals to have the water situation addressed with no success. Could this be addressed please,” said a resident from Brent Road.
Added another: “The water issue appears to be the main concern.
“I am on Anton Avenue and I have not had municipal water out of my taps since 2010, we survive on borehole water.
“However, we have a resident on Dunkeld Road who has had a water leak for close to one year with it not being addressed to date. The wall is now damaged. This leak has been reported on numerous occasions.”
Mt Pleasant Heights residents also bemoaned the water crisis in their suburb demanding to know if there were any plans to address the situation.
“What are your plans for water delivery (in) Mt Pleasant Heights?”
Residents queried why they continue to be billed for water when they had gone for many years without receiving it from council.
“We have not had water in Granta Road since 2008. We keep reminding the city council that we have had no water but they keep assessing charges for water they never provided.
“They know there is no water as their meter readers do not come. It is very frustrating. The one irritating thing is that should water start coming, we will most of us re-do plumbing as the galvanised pipes have rusted. Hope things will work out,” said a resident from Granta Road.
Council officials taking part in the virtual meeting promised to send teams from the water department to check the problems on the listed roads.
“I have noted Fal Road in Vainona, the position is we are sending our crews to check the water connections and the water meter at the said addresses we are suspecting some corroded pipes.
“Yes, I understand Vainona was not receiving water supply but this time we have improved by supplying water to the residents.
“Our aim as Council is for everyone to have water despite the challenges we might face,” said a council official.
Added Mrs Mverechena: “The water team is on the ground trying to rectify that problem.”
