THE Bulawayo City Council yesterday dismissed messages claiming that there would be no running water between today and Monday due to a plant shutdown at Ncema Dam. STAFF REPORTER
The rumour being circulated through social network WhatsApp reads: “There will absolutely be no water in all taps in Bulawayo from Friday to Monday. Please pass on the message to all you know.
“For those who haven’t heard, please make sure you have water stored from Thursday as the Ncema Dam plant is being shut down this weekend.”
But Bulawayo town clerk Middleton Nyoni dismissed the message as a hoax that residents must ignore.
“The City of Bulawayo is concerned that a hoax message has been circulating purporting that there will be no water in Bulawayo from Friday to Monday,” he said.
“Residents are advised that this message is not true as the city will not be shutting down water. Please ignore the message.”
The message had caused panic among residents and some had already started storing water in large containers in preparation for the “dry” taps.
Nyoni said council was not aware of the source of the hoax message. Council early this month announced that it would be carrying out a bulk water reservoir cleaning programme to enhance the quality of water delivered to the city. The programme began on June 16 and is expected to end on July 30.
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“There might be water supply interruptions should the reservoir ancillary components require maintenance,” Nyoni said at the time.
Recent quality tests conducted by the council’s microbiology section indicated that Bulawayo water was safe and met specifications of the Standards Association of Zimbabwe, a statutory body that ensures firms meet and comply with various laid down standards.
Laboratory tests at the reservoirs in Cowdray Park, Ncema, Criterion and Fernhill showed that the water did not have coliforms or faecal matter. Coliforms are a broad class of bacteria.
