The City of Harare has issued a warning about a significant increase in sewer blockages throughout the capital, attributing much of the crisis to illegal dumping of solid waste by residents. Council officials report that about 60% of the current sewer system problems are linked directly to residents’ activities, with only 40% resulting from structural wear and tear or other infrastructural issues.
Simon Muserere, Harare’s Department of Water Engineer, highlighted that the situation has worsened over the past few years. Materials such as rags, kitchen utensils, construction debris, and sand are increasingly clogging pipelines, disrupting the flow of wastewater and overburdening the city’s sewer infrastructure.
“Previously, the council received over four tonnes of sand per day at our sewage treatment plants, which helped maintain a self-cleansing velocity in the sewer lines. Now, that self-cleansing velocity is lost, and instead, between three and four tonnes of sand are accumulating in the pipelines,” Muserere explained. This accumulation exacerbates blockages and creates additional strain on the sewer system.
Blockages, once mainly a problem in high-density suburbs, have now spread to low-density areas, signaling that the crisis is becoming citywide. “This is a major concern as we have seen a significant rise in blockages across all areas of the city,” Muserere said.
To address the surge in blockages, Harare has deployed high-pressure sewer clearing machines and has resorted to costly excavations to clear clogged lines. However, Muserere warned that these measures are unsustainable in the long term, especially given the city’s limited budget and financial constraints.
Harare Sounds Alarm Over Increasing Sewer Blockages
He also pointed to water rationing as a contributing factor. Limited water availability restricts proper flushing of waste through the system, leaving solid matter in the pipelines. “When you use a very small tin, it might clear your toilet, but the load remains in the pipeline. A larger bucket helps push waste through to the treatment plant,” he advised, encouraging residents to use adequate flushing techniques to reduce the strain on the sewer network.
Muserere urged residents to take responsibility for reducing user-related blockages, emphasizing that doing so would allow the city to allocate more resources to fixing structural issues rather than continually clearing preventable obstructions. “If we cut down the 60% caused by residents, we can focus our limited resources on fixing structural issues and avoid overstraining the city’s budget,” he said.
Illegal dumping of solid waste remains a key challenge. Items such as plastic bags, food waste, and building materials are often disposed of improperly, clogging manholes and sewer pipes. Muserere stressed the importance of public cooperation, noting that community awareness and responsible disposal practices are crucial to preventing future blockages.
City officials are also planning to intensify public education campaigns to inform residents about proper waste disposal and the impacts of illegal dumping on municipal services. These campaigns aim to reduce the volume of solid waste entering the sewer system and encourage citizens to report illegal dumping incidents.
In addition to resident-induced blockages, the aging sewer infrastructure poses challenges. Some pipes are decades old and prone to collapse or leakage, making maintenance and upgrades essential. However, with a significant portion of resources diverted to clearing user-related blockages, addressing these structural faults becomes increasingly difficult.
The cumulative effect of increased blockages, limited water flow, and aging infrastructure has led to slower wastewater movement, higher maintenance costs, and a greater risk of sewer overflows, which can affect public health and the environment. Muserere highlighted that preventing blockages before they occur is far more cost-effective than continuously addressing emergencies.
In conclusion, the City of Harare faces a growing sewer crisis driven largely by improper waste disposal by residents, compounded by water rationing and aging infrastructure. Officials are calling on citizens to adopt responsible waste management practices, properly flush toilets, and cooperate with municipal guidelines to help alleviate the problem. By taking proactive steps to reduce user-caused blockages, the city can better focus its limited resources on structural improvements, ultimately safeguarding public health, the environment, and the financial sustainability of the sewer system.
Source- Bulawayo24
