Hazardous Chemical Spill on Harare-Bindura Road

By Staff Reporter

A truck transporting liquid aluminium sulphate — commonly known as alum — was involved in an accidental spill along the Harare–Bindura Highway in Mazowe District. Of the roughly 5,000 litres the truck was carrying, about 2,000 litres were successfully recovered at the scene, while the remainder soaked into the roadside soil.

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) responded to the scene, barricaded the affected area, and began containment and cleanup operations.

What Is Liquid Aluminium Sulphate?

Liquid aluminium sulphate is an inorganic salt with everyday industrial uses — it’s a key chemical in water treatment plants for purification, and it’s also used in paper manufacturing. In its liquid form, though, it’s corrosive and acidic, which means spills like this one require careful, deliberate handling rather than a quick wipe-down.

The Risks: Fresh Spill vs. Soil-Absorbed Chemical

The hazard doesn’t disappear once the liquid soaks into the ground — it just changes shape. Until the site is properly treated, several risks remain:

• Skin and eye harm — Direct contact with the liquid, or with soil that has absorbed it, can cause skin irritation, redness, and serious eye damage.
• Environmental and ecological impact — Aluminium sulphate is moderately toxic to aquatic life and vegetation. If heavy rain washes the absorbed chemical out of the soil and into nearby streams or drainage systems, it can degrade water quality and harm fish and other aquatic organisms.
• Risk to livestock and people — Ingestion or direct exposure — whether by grazing livestock, children, or residents — can cause internal irritation or chemical burns.

Safety Guidelines for the Public

EMA has outlined clear precautions for anyone near the site:

• Stay out of the area — Do not enter, cross, or interfere with the barricaded accident site.
• Avoid all contact — Don’t touch the contaminated soil or any residual liquid.
• Keep children and animals away — Livestock and domestic animals should be kept well clear to prevent accidental grazing or exposure.
• Drive carefully — Motorists on the Harare–Bindura Highway should slow down and follow instructions from safety personnel on site.

How Long Will the Risk Last?

Unlike organic solvents, aluminium sulphate doesn’t evaporate or break down on its own — it’s a mineral salt, and its hazard comes down to concentration and acidity rather than volatility. Left untreated, the contaminated soil could pose a localized risk for an extended period, particularly by altering soil chemistry or leaching into water sources during rainfall.

That’s why EMA isn’t simply waiting for the chemical to disperse. The agency is overseeing a structured remediation process: excavating the contaminated roadside soil, neutralizing it, and disposing of it safely. Once that removal and treatment process is complete, the site is expected to no longer pose a threat to public health or the surrounding environment.