Harare City Council has revealed that at least 70 percent of raw sewage entering the city’s treatment plants is being released into the environment.
The information comes from the city’s draft master plan (2025–2045), which warns that Harare’s sewage treatment capacity has fallen below 40 percent.
“Seventy percent of raw sewage received in treatment plants in Harare spills into the environment as there is less than 40 percent available treatment capacity.
“The inadequate capacity is due to old infrastructure.
“Sewerage systems are overwhelmed by the densification of properties and numerous households illegally residing in single-dwelling units. The system needs upgrading.”
The report adds that raw sewage from burst pipes and blockages in high-density suburbs often ends up in nearby rivers and streams before flowing into Lake Chivero.
According to the Council, the main pollutants in Lake Chivero come from raw sewage, industrial effluent, and chemicals from urban farming.
Although the City of Harare insists the water is safe to drink, the report notes that treated water can get contaminated while travelling through old pipes.
To tackle the problem, the Council recommends investing in new water sources, including gradually developing the Kunzvi or Musami water supply schemes, and studying the potential of the Muda and Mazowe dams.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) estimates that about 54 megalitres of raw sewage enter Lake Chivero, the capital’s main water source, every day.
