Public water supply to be super-chlorinated, as Kitwe authority orders removal of kiosks to check cholera spread

In a move meant to address the cholera outbreak, the National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) has allowed the 11 commercial utilities to super-chlorinate the water supplied to the public.

This is meant to prevent the further spread of cholera.

NWASCO had further directed commercial utilities to ensure water quality monitoring was enhanced by conducting ancillary tests and submit results to the regulator weekly, apart from the approved scheduled water quality sampling which are currently submitted quarterly.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, NWASCO Public Relations Officer, Mandamu Mayowe, said this had been done in line with the water sector regulator’s mandate.

Mayowe said water utility companies would need to provide details of reports of measures being undertaken for any failures observed.

“The commercial utilities will be required to submit reports detailing the measures being
implemented for any failures observed during this period, allowing for quick action to be
taken against the spread of the disease,” she said.

“In the event of super-chlorination, commercial utilities can attain residual chlorine of more than 0.5
milligrams per litre in order to contain any possible post-contamination that may occur in the water distribution network or in storage facilities at customer points,” she added.

Meanwhile, Kitwe City Council Town Clerk, Patrick Kambita, has directed that all booths and makeshift shelters in strategic areas be removed to prevent further outbreak of cholera.

Kambita claimed in a statement on Wednesday that most of the booths and shelters were being used as toilets hence the need for a clamp down.

“Makeshift shelters and illegal structures along Kitwe-Chingola and Ndola–Kitwe dual carriage ways must be removed with immediate effect as there are sanitary facilities available,” he stated.

Kambita also directed that all restaurants, bars and night clubs must have clean toilets, and hand washing facilities and that public bus operators should ensure that alcohol based sanitisers were provided for passengers on board.

The Town Clerk said that owners of businesses and residential owners m, with effect from January 2, 2024, should subscribe to door-to-door solid waste collection services.

Cholera the water borne disease is currently wreaking havoc in the country as it had so far claimed around 70 lives in a space of two months.

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