Determination of Microbial Water Quality of Treated Water and Raw Water Sources in the Harare Area, Zimbabwe | Chapter 11 | Challenging Issues on Environment and Earth Science Vol. 8

In order to provide drinkable water for home usage, microbial water quality is critical. Most Zimbabwean municipalities obligated to provide enough volumes of safe water for home use have found it impossible to do so. Harare City and the neighbouring areas receive potable water from the Morton-Jaffray Treatment Plant. This study looked into microbiological water quality and the effects of microbial water quality-related disasters in the Morton Jaffray Treatment Plant’s service region. Questionnaires were provided to Harare residents who get their water from the municipality as well as those who get their water from other sources. Candidates were chosen at random from a pool of applicants. assessed. Hydrogen sulphide test and heterotrophic bacteria plate count were used to evaluate the microbiological quality of treated water in homes. The presence of faecal materials in raw water sources was discovered. Faecal contamination was found to be absent in household water sources, but heterotrophic bacteria were found to be present. For all samples, CFU concentrations ranged from 1 to 452 CFU/ml. Water used for home reasons should not contain more than 100 CFU/ml, according to WHO recommendations for domestic water sources. The public’s view of water quality ranged from “unsafe” to “very dangerous.” tainted’. Residents turned to alternative sources of household water, such as wells and rivers, as the level of aesthetic appeal declined. The treated water in its current state was appropriate for residential consumption. The hydrogen sulphide test and the R2A agar test are recommended for pathogen surveillance in residential water.



Author(s) Details


Tatenda G. Chirenda
Environmental and Biotechnology Research Unit, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.

Sunitha C. Srinivas
Division of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.

Roman Tandlich
Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.


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