By Vincent Gunde

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Central Region Water Board (CRWB) has warned customers to desist from illegal tampering of water pipes saying is costing the board heavily.

The board has appealed to customers and the general public to report any tampering of water supply system.

CRWB has since requested for voluntary demolition of structures that are built on pipelines and residents to report any suspected quality problems and contamination to its offices immediately.

In November, 2021 some residents at Nkhotakota boma complained of being rationed with unsafe water, black in colour coming out from taps.

Eventually, residents threatened to take unspecified action if CRWB will not be clear on the incident.

One of the residents, Paulina Ziyada residing at old hospital’s staff houses said they were surprised with black water in colour coming out from a tap and showers producing a bad smell forcing her not to continue using the water.

Ziyada said the affected residents reported the matter to the officials at Central Region Water Board Nkhotakota branch, the officers appealed to the customers to remain calm promising them that the Board will be investigating the reports.

In a message to Nkhotakota community radio station for airing sequence signed by Zepherin Mitumba, the Board says the area was immediately isolated from the rest of the system.

Matumba disclosed that water samples were collected for detailed tests, water supply was reconnected once corrective measures that included re-routing of the pipelines and disinfection of the water works were done by Friday, December 3, 2021.

The Board carried out an investigation on the suspected water quality breach in its Nkhotakota Water Supply distribution system preliminary facts of the issues were that customers around the old hospital reported water quality problem to the CRWB office.

The board says its staff suspected that the incident was a result of a pipe burst on one of the distribution pipes close to a pit latrine which an unpatriotic member of the community illegally connected

Added that the board will proceed with litigation against person[s] who tampered with CRWB water works in the area.

The Board says the Laboratory results on the suspected water quality breach confirmed possible water contamination on samples that were collected by the customers while the results of other samples collected by the Board after isolation of the suspected point, come out negative.

“CRWB sincerely regrets the incident and is assuring its customers at Nkhotakota boma, all customers are assured of a continued commitment to supply of portable water,” reads the message in part.