Kampala sewage management in much better shape

Oct 02, 2019

NWSC has constructed two new sewage treatment plants (STPs) including Lubigi STP which was completed in 2014, Kinawataka Sewage treatment plant and Nakivubo wastewater treatment plant which was completed this year.

OPINION

Reading the article that appeared on page 18 of the New Vision of Monday, September 30, 2019, under the headline: "Kampala's rivers of sewage", one would be forgiven for thinking that Kampala is drowning in a sea of sewage. The headline writer obviously overcooked the headline. 

Abuse and misuse of sewer lines

The sewerage system in Kampala is designed as a separate system to carry only waste water from toilets and kitchens and not stormwater from premises through the sewer pipes to five sewage treatment plants namely Nakivubo, Lubigi, Kinawataka, Naalya and Bugolobi sewege treatment plants. 

The sewerage system has been burdened by the poor drainage systems in the city, the sprouting of commercial centres, which illegally connect stormwater from the roof onto the system and poor usage of toilet facilities leading to frequent blockages and overflows onto the roads.

 

Whenever it rains, the roads flood, the sewer manholes get submerged leading to the entry of large volumes of stormwater into the sewerage system and consequent outbursts along the sewer lines. 

Also, large amounts of organic solid waste are persistently dumped in open drains. These decompose with time and when mixed with stormwater flowing over quite long distances will give a characteristic smell and the sight of sewage, something commonly experienced in channels draining the city market, informal settlements and congested areas like Nakawa and Kibuli as mentioned in the article.   

Solutions

NWSC is not sleeping. We are implementing the Kampala Sanitation Programme geared towards improving the sewerage system, ultimately preserving Lake Victoria and improving the livelihood of the citizens. The measures under this programme include:

 NWSC has constructed two new sewage treatment plants (STPs) including Lubigi STP which was completed in 2014, Kinawataka Sewage treatment plant and Nakivubo wastewater treatment plant which was completed this year. 

 The Nakivubo wastewater treatment plant is currently treating wastewater from the polluted Nakivubo Channel (which it is named after) before releasing it safely into Lake Victoria. 

The sewer network has been expanded beyond the central business district and the old colonial city by about 50km.

The new sewer lines serve areas of Ntinda, Kyambogo, Kinawataka, Butabika, Mengo-Kisenyi, Makindye, Kabalagala, Kalerwe, Bwaise and Kawempe and new sewers of up to 1.5 metres in diameter have been installed to serve the Central Business District.

 

 

Other interventions

 Construction of two new faecal sludge treatment plants at Nalukolongo and Kajjansi is expected to be completed in 2021.

 Construction of the Kiruddu Hospital wastewater treatment system is expected to be completed in 2021.

 Implementation of resource recovery and re-use mechanisms in partnership with the private sector to obtain value-added byproducts from sewage like biogas, biofuel/briquettes and fertiliser.

Our sewerage network maintenance teams carry out preventive cleaning of the sewers in the city and are available on a 2-4-7 basis. 

We implore the public not to connect rainwater onto the sewer systems, avoid dumping solid waste into sewers and drains or channels and report any sewage overflows to our toll-free line 0800200977 or 0800300977.

 We can also be reached on all social media platforms @nwscug and @NWSCMD on twitter and www.facebook.com/nwscug.

The writer is the Senior Manager, Public Relations, National Water and Sewerage Corporation        

 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});