Residents in parts of Lilongwe have gone for days without reliable water, forcing some to turn to wells and boreholes as fears grow over diseases linked to unsafe water and poor hygiene.
Residents from Kaliyeka, Area 23, Area 22 and other parts of the city told Malawi24 they have gone for up to four days without tap water.
The shortages are making basic routines such as cooking, bathing and washing difficult, while some families are being forced to search for alternative water sources.
At Kaliyeka, residents have been flocking to a borehole at the local school, with some arriving in the early hours to secure water before the supply runs out.
“Today, water came around 3am, but it did not take long before it stopped again,” said a woman who was drawing water from the borehole on Saturday.
Residents say the unreliable supply is leaving them with little choice but to use water from wells and other sources whose safety cannot always be guaranteed.
Environmental expert Charles Mkomwa has warned that contaminated water can expose communities to waterborne diseases, including diarrhoeal illnesses, particularly where proper sanitation and hygiene are compromised.
“Residents using shallow wells could compromise their safety,” adding that the stoppage is likely caused by low electricity supply. “When demand is high and supply is low, the outcome can be shortages.”
Meanwhile, Lilongwe Water Board spokesperson Chisomo Chibwana said the shortages are partly due to demand for water exceeding the utility’s current supply capacity.
Chibwana also pointed to technical challenges affecting water supply in some areas as another cause of the interruptions.
The spokesperson has since urged customers experiencing prolonged water cuts to report the problems to the water board.
The worsening water situation comes as households across the country continue to grapple with persistent power outages, putting additional pressure on families already struggling to access essential services.
