Harare Residents Told To Flush Toilets With Bigger Buckets
The City of Harare has instructed residents to use larger buckets when flushing toilets to prevent sewage chaos. Officials said small containers do not push waste far enough, leaving it stuck in sewer pipes and causing blockages.
‘A small tin won’t work’
Harare department of water Engineer Simon Muserere said water rationing has forced many residents to flush toilets using small tins and containers. He warned that this practice is worsening the city’s sewer problems.
Muserere explained:
“When you use a very small tin, it might clear your toilet, but the load remains in the pipeline. A larger bucket helps push waste through to the treatment plant.”
He added that sewer blockages are rising sharply because of poor flushing methods and household waste ending up in the system.
“Sixty percent of sewer system problems are caused by residents, with only forty percent coming from wear and tear or structural issues,” said Muserere.
Buckets seen as key to preventing chaos
The engineer stressed that switching to bigger buckets could save the city from frequent and costly blockages. He said sand, rags and even kitchen utensils are being found in sewer lines, but the lack of proper flushing is compounding the crisis.
Muserere explained that in the past, sewage treatment plants used to receive over four tonnes of sand daily. This natural flow helped maintain what engineers call a “self-cleansing velocity”. Now, however, between three and four tonnes of sand are trapped inside pipelines instead of being washed through.
“That self-cleansing velocity is lost,” he said.
He said bigger bucket flushing would help restore part of that system flow and reduce the pressure on council resources.
Residents urged to take responsibility
Muserere urged residents to play their part in fighting blockages by changing flushing habits and being more careful about what they dispose of in toilets.
He stated:
“If we cut down the sixty percent caused by residents, we can focus our limited resources on fixing structural issues and avoid overstraining the city’s budget.”
He also revealed that the city has been forced to deploy high-velocity clearing machines and carry out costly excavations to unblock sewer lines. These measures, he said, cannot continue in the long term.
“We need cooperation from residents. Bigger buckets make a huge difference,” Muserere concluded.
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The post Flush With Bigger Buckets To Prevent Sewage Crisis: Harare Council Tells Residents appeared first on iHarare News.
