In a move that’s raising eyebrows (and maybe a few flushed eyebrows), the City of Harare is asking residents to use larger buckets when flushing their toilets to tackle the ever-annoying sewer blockages. Yes, you read that right—the same city facing water rationing and shedding is now encouraging folks to pour more water down the drains.
Engineer Simon Muserere from the city’s Department of Water explained that smaller containers, which many have resorted to during water shortages, aren’t doing the trick. “Sure, a small tin might clear your toilet bowl, but the waste gets stuck in the pipes,” he said. “A larger bucket helps push everything through to the treatment plant.”
Sounds simple enough—if only there were enough water to go around. But with water rationing still in full swing, one can’t help but wonder where this “extra” water is supposed to come from. Maybe from the mythical Harare rain cloud that’s been missing in action?
Muserere also pointed out that about 60% of sewer problems come from residents’ flushing habits, while the rest are due to infrastructure issues. So, apparently, the solution is for residents to become flushing experts overnight.
While the council’s advice might save the sewage system from clogging, it leaves many scratching their heads about how to find enough water to comply without turning every flush into a luxury. In the meantime, Harare residents might just have to perfect their aim and hope the pipes don’t throw a tantrum.
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