Beitbridge Town Council suspends water pumping amid pollution fears

Residents of Beitbridge could face water supply disruptions after the Municipality of Beitbridge temporarily suspended the pumping of water from the town’s main dam following reports of possible contamination.

In a public notice issued on Thursday, the local authority said it had taken the precautionary measure after suspecting pollution in the dam that supplies water to the border town.

According to the Town Clerk, pumping operations were stopped with immediate effect to protect public health while investigations are carried out to determine whether the water source has been contaminated and, if so, the extent of the problem.

The municipality said teams from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) and the Municipality of Beitbridge had launched a joint investigation on 12 November.

The teams are expected to establish the source, cause and severity of the suspected pollution before a decision is made on whether water pumping can resume.

The council stressed that, despite the concerns, there were currently no visible signs of environmental damage in the dam.

It said inspectors had not observed dead fish or other distressed aquatic life that would normally indicate serious pollution.

However, the Town Clerk said they will not take any chances with public safety and that water pumping will remain suspended until laboratory tests and technical assessments are completed. Pumping will only resume after experts certify that the water is safe.

In anticipation of possible supply challenges, residents have been urged to use available water sparingly while awaiting further updates from the municipality.