Residents of some places where Konkola Copper Mines sunk boreholes in Chingola have complained about the discolored water coming out when they are drawing from the wells.
Acorrding to a survey conducted by Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) at Kalundu village in the area, the people complained that they had water but it was discolored forcing them to draw water from Kafue River which they use for drinking and preparing food.
A woman found washing clothes at one of the wells said they fail to use the water because of the color but that they draw water from another nearby village which is at a distance.
The woman said the idea of sinking boreholes has been accepted by the people but that KCM and Zambezi Drilling Company should have looked at the sites where they have sunk the boreholes to find out if the water was okay or not.
This is because people have gone back to drawing water from the river defeating the purpose of having water wells.
At Hippo Pool, it was found that from the two (2) wells, only one well was operational as the other one fails to pump water out while at Shimulala Middle Basic School a teacher found at the school also complained about water being disclored especially when many people draw water from there.
Mr. Kajama, a chairman in the area said they had reported about the disclored water to KCM but they have not received any response.
When contacted for comment Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) vice president for corporate affairs Sam Equamo said they have also received similar reports and that Zambezi Drilling Company which sank the boreholes has been told to rectify the problem.
People living in Shimulala and Hippo Pool have for a long time been affected by the pollution from KCM tailings which have destroyed the environment burying the streams with silt and has affected the farming community as the soil is no longer suitable for farming activities.
Kafue River was last year polluted by chemicals from KCM and this led to KCM sinking boreholes in the affected areas at a cost of US$150,000.
