MASSIVE housing developments and industrial activities have been cited among some of the elements negatively impacting the environment.
The environment continues to suffer immensely as people disregard best practices in the use of the various resources.
Land resettlements for farming purposes and housing developments have resulted in deforestation.
And the increased use of septic tanks and latrines in areas where land is not serviced has led to increasing water pollution.
Mining and other industrial companies are also discharging untreated effluent into water sources posing a serious threat to both people and animals.
Chronic diseases that health and environmental experts talk about that stem from these discharges may seem far-fetched, but victims can testify to the devastating effects.
Those whose relatives died or suffered from cholera and dysentery are also witnesses to the dangers of water pollution.
Speaking during a recent tour organised by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Harare Province, education and publicity manager Steady Kangata said there was need to constantly monitor the environment through testing water, soil and folia for better decision making.
“As EMA we are mandated to keep check of the environment by monitoring it,” he said.
“This is the reason why the EMA laboratory constantly goes back to the catchment areas to see the water quality and to stop certain processes.
“There are some industrial companies that discharge untreated effluent into rivers and streams while some mining companies use mercury and cyanide in their processes of production and these metals are harmful to the environment and people.
“Monitoring and advising relevant people helps in keeping the environment clean and for relevant authorities to make appropriate decisions.
“It is important that people do not contaminate the environment or else they will pay the cost in the long run.”
It was highlighted at the media tour that it was wrong to think that clear water was genuinely clean.
Clean water, it was said, had to be tasteless, colourless and odourless.
The absence of one of the above meant that water had some level of pollution.
Speaking about the functions of the EMA lab (EMAL), the lab’s manager, Sylvia Yomisi said they received a wide range of samples for testing.
“The laboratory receives approximately 6 000 samples a year from municipalities, mining industry, agricultural and environmental consultants and individuals,” Yomisi said.
“We conduct water, soil and folia testing because of various threats to the environment caused by human activities.
“Threats to underground water include sewer bursts and increase in the use of latrines and septic tanks since at the moment there is massive housing developments in unserviced land.
“Many people suffered from cholera and dysentery in the past because these septic tanks and latrines were within the vicinity of drinking water hence the contamination of the water with faecal bacteria.
“Mining, agricultural and industrial discharges in both surface and underground water have also resulted in increased pollution.”
EMAL was built in 1997 and started operating in 2007.
The lab has been accredited by the Southern African Development Community Accreditation Services SADCAS.
It provides support and advice on all aspects of environmental quality such as analysis, research, treatment studies and training.
Under the EMA Act 20:27 and Statutory Instrument 6 of 2007, EMAL monitors industrial discharges before getting into the environment.
Contrary to the belief that underground water is the safest water to drink, current trends show that most underground water is highly contaminated.
For instance, underground water fetched from three boreholes at Pomona dumpsite and surrounding areas showed levels of pollution from waste materials dumped at the site.
Waste found at Pomona dumpsite includes biodegradable and non-biodegradable material as the country is yet to fully grasp the importance of separation of waste materials.
Due to the fact that the City of Harare has no lined landfill, the waste is pilled at Pomona dumpsite and later compacted.
This has led to the formulation of methane gas as the biodegradable material ferments.
The methane gas is, however, not harvested for the purposes of energy because the city council has no lined landfill.
Lined landfills have systems that trap methane gas for energy use.
The City of Harare claims that setting up a landfill is expensive though creating one can have substantial commercial returns.
In other countries abroad, landfills are common and not much waste is produced since the ‘reduce-reuse-recycle’ principles are used.
Recycling centres are common with almost every material recycled to produce various products.
Biodegradable material has been used to produce composts for agricultural purposes.