THE Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) has said it is concerned that ground water in Lusaka is at risk of contamination due to the continuous floods being experienced.
WARMA director general Engineer Kenneth Nyundu has since warned that townships such as Chawama, Kalikiliki, Kanyama, and Misisi have a high risk of groundwater contamination, a situation he described as an impending health hazard.
Eng. Nyundu said most households in these areas had installed boreholes and wells in a 10 meters radius from their pit latrines.
Eng. Nyundu noted that the situation had the potential to contaminate groundwater if sewage washes off with flood water and mixes with drinking water.
He has since implored the Lusaka City Council Town Clerk Brighton Mbaimbai to ensure that the allocation of plots in Lusaka was done in a systematic way to avoid having wells and boreholes within a radius of 20 meters.
Eng. Nyundu implored that both institutions should work together in ensuring that there was consultations before the allocation of plots to ensure the sustainable management of the water resource.
“Most households such as in Chawama, Kalikiliki, Kanyama, and Misisi townships have installed boreholes and wells in a 10 meters radius from pit latrines and that has also contributed to the ground water in Lusaka being at risk of contamination due to the continuous floods experienced,” said Eng. Nyundu.
And Mr Mbaimbai has assured WARMA that the council would work with the institution in ensuring that all necessary public institutions were consulted before a plot was allocated to an individual.
“I am relieved that WARMA has continued to monitor the quality of ground water in Lusaka to ensure that residents are warned of any contamination to ensure precautions are taken,” he said.
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