Treated water from Nkana Water Supply Company now safe for use, minister Nzovu assures residents of Kitwe

Water Development and Sanitation Minister, Collins Nzovu, has assured residents of Kitwe, Kalulushi, and surrounding areas that treated water supplied by Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Company (NWSSC) is safe for use.

Speaking during a media briefing after touring NWSSC’s Ipusukilo Water Treatment Plant in Kitwe on Saturday, Nzovu clarified that while raw water remained unsafe, the treated supply meets all required standards.

“What is not safe is the raw water which has not been treated, but I am assured that treated water is very safe for use,” he said.

Nzovu added that he was in constant communication with President Hakainde Hichilema, who had directed a thorough assessment to ensure public safety.

“Kafue River is a strategic resource that must be safeguarded at all costs, and the government will continue implementing measures to prevent future pollution incidents,” he said.

He further explained that NWSSC had introduced pre-chlorination to reduce manganese levels and that all water treatment parameters complied with standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS).

Meanwhile, Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo commended residents for their patience during the recent water contamination crisis.

“Mine is to thank the people of the Copperbelt for remaining patient as the government addresses the pollution situation,” Matambo said.

On February 18, 2025, acid effluents from Sino Metals Leach Limited spilled into the Mwambashi and Kafue Rivers, contaminating the water and killing aquatic life, including fish.

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