Botswana: Mayor blames Gaborone residents for pit latrine woes

Residents of Self-Help Housing Agency (SHHA) in Gaborone have been blamed for the clogging of machines used to empty pit latrines in their residences.

“They are the ones who throw in hard objects like metals and blankets in the pit latrines which end up blocking the pipes and damaging the vacuum tankers as they vacuum the toilets,” Gaborone mayor, Veronica Lesole said.

Lesole stated that they have held meetings in the SHHA areas to educate the public about not dumping certain objects in the pit latrines. “It is not failure on our part because the breakdown of the vacuum tankers is beyond our control and the residents have contributed to the breakdown themselves,” she said. She indicated that the situation in the SHHA areas has forced the council to outsource services for emptying pit latrines. “The invitation to tender has been submitted to the government gazette which has gone for print as we speak. If it was failure on our part to arrest the situation, we would not be running around calling for tenders,” the mayor said.

She explained that they called SHHA residents for a meeting to explain the problem just before the World Cup to discuss the problem but right now this is not possible. “Right now we thought that most people would be glued to their televisions watching football and might not come for the meetings. We will start calling them after the World Cup,” she said.

Last week, Lesole said in her mayoral speech at the full council that lack of funds to purchase new tankers has resulted in a backlog of over 1,000 households with pit latrines and septic tanks that need to be emptied. She stated that the situation is serious as sewage is spilling over in most SHHA areas. She said a request has been made for the repair of the vacuum tankers to be expedited.

Source:

Chandapiwa Baputaki, MmegiOnline, 29 June 2010

Cameroon: Cholera epidemic intensifies

A cholera epidemic that broke out at the beginning of June 2010 in the northern parts of Cameroon has intensified with 11 people reportedly dead out of 73 diagnosed cases.

The 73 cases and 11 deaths are reported to have occurred in Gobo in the Mayo Danay Division in the Far North region of Cameroon. Among the death is said to be a soldier of the Rapid Intervention Battalion with French acronym, BIR.

The Mayor of the locality, Elias Voumsoumna, is quoted as saying measures have been taken to treat all water points while sensitisation messages on the observance of hygiene and sanitation have been going on over the media and in Churches, mosques and other meeting points.

He said the population is also being called upon to immediately take all suspected cases to the nearest hospitals for optimum medical attention.

According to official sources, since the outbreak was reported in Mada and Makary in the Logone and Chari Division at the beginning of June 2010 and Mogode in Mayo Tsanaga division in mid June, 157 cases have been reported with 20 deaths. However, it should be noted that this does not include cases that died at home and cases not declared.

To add to efforts of the Far North Regional Delegate of Public Health with the support of international partners to fight the epidemic, the Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda, was expected in the Region on 28 June 2010 to take stock of the situation in a bid to seek solutions.

Source: Solomon Tembang Mforgham, AfricaNews, 29 June 2010

Nigeria: Yuguda’s water projects in Bauchi

For the residents of Lafiyan Sara in Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, the recent inauguration of a solar-powered borehole complex for the community came like a dream, considering their long years of suffering as a result of the non-availability of potable water.

Mr. Peter Danbiram, the Chief of Lafiyan Sara, recalls that over the years, the residents had relied on streams, rainwater and other unhygienic sources of water for their daily water needs, with the attendant risks of contracting water-borne diseases.

It was no surprise, therefore, that the residents rolled out the drums to celebrate their good fortune, following the Bauchi State Government’s intervention.

“The gesture by the government in providing water for us will remain indelible in the minds of our people, as well as other benefiting neighbouring communities,” Danbiram stresses.

Observers note that Lafiyan Sara and Bamja in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area are some of the several communities across the country which lack potable water for their residents.

They also note that the recent feats in Bauchi State were the result of a joint effort by the state government, the Office of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BAURUWASSA).

Government officials are, however, quick to point out that out of the 45 million gallons of water required by residents of the Bauchi metropolis daily, only 2.5 million gallons were available when the present administration came on board in 2007.

The Commissioner of Water Resources, Mr. Bukata Bukar, recalls that the water supply situation before the new administration came into power was pathetic.

“Taking the Bauchi metropolis as a case study, the water supply from the dam at that time was in the region of 25 per cent to 30 per cent of its installed capacity.

“This, we found out, was due to broken-down generators, epileptic power supply from PHCN and malfunctioning transformers at the Gubi Dam water treatment plant,” he said.

Bukar recalls that Gov. Isa Yuguda immediately approved the purchase of new generators and transformers at over N158 million, in order to ameliorate the power problems.

“This effort resulted in the increase in the water supply from the dam, from 2.5 million gallons to 10 million gallons of water per day.

“Similarly, another smaller water treatment plant was reconstructed at Gubi Dam at the cost of N443.2 million and the plant provides an additional 2.5 million gallons per day, thus bringing the combined water supply to 12.5 million gallons per day,” Bukar said.

In Azare, Misau, as well as in other towns and villages, the state government has also provided wells with hand pumps and motorised boreholes to boost water supply to the people.

Keen observers say that other communities, which have benefited from various water schemes in the state, include Bogoro, Kari and Gololo.

These communities had been having serious water supply problems over the years.

According to Bukar, about 205 solar-powered and motorised borehole projects have been completed and inaugurated, while another set of 59 wells fitted with hand pumps were provided.

“Besides, water treatment chemicals were made available by the government and this has been very helpful in sustaining the current level of water supply,” he said.

BAURUWASSA is the major government agency that has facilitated water supply across the state.

Its Project Manager, Malam Garba Magaji, says that in over three years, the agency executed 120 water projects in communities, schools and health facilities in Dass, Kirfi, Darazo, Giade, Zaki and Dambam local government areas.

He said that the improved water supply has drastically reduced the incidence of guinea worm disease afflictions in the state.

Observers note that the state government’s partnership with the Federal Government via the Conditional Grants Scheme (CGS) of the Office the MDGs has facilitated the drilling of over 100 solar-powered boreholes and 200 hand-pumped wells across the state.

Hajiya Hajara Wanka, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on MDGs, says that about N4 billion was expended in providing boreholes, using the 2007 and 2008 grants.

She said that most of the water projects were sited in the remotest parts of the state, pledging that the government will not relent in its efforts to attain a total coverage of the state in the water supply programme.

“Despite these laudable efforts aimed at providing water to the people of the state, much needs to be done to ensure adequate provision of water,” she said.

There is, however, a troubling dimension to the government’s efforts to improve water supply services. During a recent visit by officials of the Governors’ Forum, Yuguda raised alarm that the Gubi Dam, the main source of water, was at the verge of collapse due to age.

He said that a deep crack had been noticed at the dam and that even though the state government had made initial repairs, there was still the need for the Federal Government’s intervention, as a collapse could pose a serious ecological problem.

In spite of the efforts of the state government, the water supply problems of the state are far from over, as more communities that are yearning for potable water have been inundating the Ministry of Water Resources with numerous requests.

However, Mrs. Leritmwa John, a housewife residing in Yelwa community, calls on the state government to come to the aid of the residents over their acute water problems.

State officials acknowledge that similar requests have also come from Rafin Zurfi, Wuntin Dada, Gudum Sayawa and Gudum Hausawa communities, among others.

Reacting to such requests, Bukar assures the people that the government is not relenting in its efforts, stressing: “These communities should exercise patience; we are going to address most of their requests soon.”

A water expert, Dr Hassan Bdliya, says that the increased demand for water for domestic, industrial and other sundry uses by the citizens has exerted pressure on the water agencies.

Bdliya, who is the Administrative Secretary of the Hadejia-Jamare-Komadugu-Yobe River Basin Development Authority, however, stresses the need for maximal utilisation of the nation’s water resources.

Health analysts note that many diseases that afflict the people could be attributed to drinking unhygienic water and by the statistics of the WHO and UNICEF; an estimated 1.8 million children under the age of five worldwide die from water-related diseases every year.

They, therefore, call on relevant agencies and stakeholders to decisively address the water supply problems of the citizens.

For many citizens of Bauchi State, the government is doing a good thing but they, nonetheless, urge the government not to relent in its efforts until all the communities in the state have unlimited access to potable water.

Source: Iliya Habila, Daily Champion / allAfrica.com, 30 June 2010

Liberia: water sector faces “deadly” financing gap

Poor sanitation and bad hygiene cause the deaths of one in five Liberians, according to the World Health Organization, but despite NGO lobbying efforts to put clean water and sanitation high on donors’ and the government’s agenda, the sector still faces a “deadly financing gap” says NGO Oxfam.

Three out of four Liberians have no access to safe drinking water and six out of seven cannot access sanitation facilities, such as toilets, according to Oxfam in a recently-launched report, Life and Dignity at risk: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Liberia.

A further US$93.5 million is needed to boost clean water access to 50 percent of all Liberians; and to improve access to toilets to 33 percent – goals set out in the government’s 2008-2011 poverty reduction strategy.

Diarrhoea kills 20 percent of children who die aged five or under in Liberia according to the report, which was released on behalf of the WASH consortium – a group of five international NGOs which advocate the improvement of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in the country.

Why so slow?

Weak capacity, lack of coordination between different ministries and between different donors, and a lack of financing for water and sanitation are the major obstacles to attaining water and sanitation goals, said the consortium.

With no central WASH authority, the ministries involved in water and sanitation supply include the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Liberia Water and Sewage Corporation, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Mines, among others.

Donor coordination is also weak: only two donors regularly attended government WASH coordination meetings last year, and the donor coordination group is led by the African Development Bank (ADB), which as yet has no presence in the country and cannot attend meetings.

The ADB is providing $35 million to support WASH in the government’s 2008-2011 poverty reduction strategy (PRS). Staff could not be contacted for an interview.

A policy, at last

A water resource and sanitation board, which will coordinate all activities in the sector, is finally being set up, after the much-delayed launch of the government’s water and sanitation policy in December 2009.

“That is the instrument to use to force leadership in the sector,” the consortium’s advocacy manager, Muyatwa Sitali, told IRIN. “Only with a water and sanitation policy can the government coordinate donors, UN agencies and NGOs involved in water provision to come up with a critically needed, sector-wide approach.”

Until that is fully functioning, it will remain unclear who is doing what in the sector, where the money is going, and what the priorities are, says Sitali.

More cash

But getting it to function will be difficult unless donors and the government commit more money to the sector. They agreed on a US$143.5 million Poverty Reduction Strategy to improve clean water and toilets across the country by 2011, but with 18 months left to achieve its goals, it is still only one-third funded.

Neither the government, nor donors are channelling enough to WASH, Public Works Assistant Minister George Yarngo told IRIN. “Given the low level of funding from both donors and the government, the PRS goals will not be achieved.”

To fast-track results, the government must fund 10 percent of the PRS, says Oxfam. Since 2006, it has allocated less than one percent of its annual budget to WASH – or from $200,000-$1 million each year. Exact figures are hard to establish because so many different ministries are involved.

It pays to pay

Upping WASH investments will pay off in the long term, say Sitali and Yarngo: Governments that do invest in water and sanitation stand to gain economically, said the Wash Consortium report: it estimated each dollar invested in the sector brought economic gains of $8-11.

But, to date, donors have favoured funding middle rather than low-income countries’ water sectors, said NGO WaterAid.

Water and sanitation receives less funding than health, education, transport, energy and agriculture, according to the global Annual Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking Water (GLAAS).

Donors that are usually strong WASH supporters – such as the Netherlands and Germany – are not funding the sector in Liberia.

“If we adequately responded to WASH, we would see a significant reduction of the diseases caused by dirty water and bad sanitation, which would drastically reduce the cost of medical services,” said Sitali. “And providing water and sanitation facilities in schools would enable thousands of people to maintain their education. Good water and sanitation is not just a matter of life, it’s a matter of dignity.”

Assistant minister Yarngo is confident the situation is about to improve, now that a policy is in place. “We just need to fast-track these changes.”

Source: IRIN, 28 June 2010

Kenya: Country fails to harvest water

Kenyans will be wishing for the next rains as it emerges that not much water was harvested in the just ended long rains season.

Of the five major dams the Water and Irrigation ministry pledged, only one in Machakos was completed within the period that started in March, assuring area residents of water for at least 10 months.

At the onset of the long rains, Water minister Charity Ngilu told Kenyans that the government was working to reverse the famine and water shortage trend.

“What Kenyans have gone through in the past two years is not something we can be proud of. We have lost livestock, begged for food, but now, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation is determined to reverse the trend,” the minister said while touring the Kiserian Dam project.

The government planned to spend Sh9.5 billion to build five major dams across the country. They include Kiserian in Kajiado, Umaa in Kitui, Chemususu in Koibatek and Maruba in Machakos — the only one so far completed.

The dams, which are at various stages of production were to be finished in or around 2012, deputy water director Gatere Kuria, told the Nation. “We are sure we shall meet our 2012 target,” he said.

At the height of the drought last year, the government also undertook to sink some 300 boreholes across the country. Mr Kuria says 220 of these have already been done, most of which are in Nairobi.

Although Nairobi’s main water source, Ndakaini Dam, is full, residents will continue facing shortages because its capacity is much lower than demand.

Talks on tackling the problem by building a dam at Maragua, central Kenya are said to ongoing between the Water ministry and the Athi Water Service Board.

This could form part of the ministry’s strategy to build 25 large dams across the country in the next 10 years. This means a Nairobi child joining class one today may live with water rationing until they are in Form Two, around the year 2020.

Source: Gatonye Gathura, The Nation / allAfrica.com, 28 June 2010

Uganda: Government gives Sh40 Billion to clean urban water

The Government has allocated about sh47b (€16.4) for the improvement of water quality in the Lake Victoria catchment areas.

Lino Musana, the national project coordinator, said about sh13.8b ( about €5 million) has been allocated to the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) for the construction and rehabilitation of the waste water treatment facilities at Ggaba and Kirinya in Jinja.

During inspection of the inner Murchison Bay and other water catchment areas of Lake Victoria over the weekend, Musana said waste water treatment facilities would be contructed in Kampala and Jinja.

“Another component was set aside for the proper use of land and restoration of wetlands. The last component was for the joint monitoring work by all the five East African countries to harmonise the laws, policies, collective data base and share information on good use of the lake,” Musana added.

Several permanent secretaries, commissioners and other technical officials from the water and environment ministry were part of the team that inspected the lake.

Another inspection, led by the Minister for Environment, Jessica Eriyo, was conducted by the National Enviromnet Management Authority (NEMA) on June 8.

Musana noted that sh25.3b was allocated for the restoration of wetlands and proper use of the surrounding areas, while sh7.5b was earmarked for the joint collaboration project.

Florence Adongo, the water quality management commissioner in the Ministry of Water and Environment, said Lake Victoria had come under threat from pollution from major urban centres of Kampala, Mukono, Mpigi and Wakiso.

“The Murchison Bay is the main water source for Kampala and it also the recipient of waste water and urban run-offs from the city centre,” Adongo noted.

The water cruise, organised by the Water and Environment ministry, was to enable stakeholders to appreciate the gravity of the pollution in the Murchison Bay, which calls for immediate action.

She said the major objective for the water quality management was to protect public health, ecosystem integrity and support sustainable economic development.

Adongo outlined the major pollution hot-spots of Uganda’s catchment areas as urban centres (72%), industries (13%), fishing villages (15%). Kampala alone accounts for 65% of the total biological oxygen demand in urban centres.

The four-year project (2010-2013), Lake Victoria Environmental Management, Phase II (LAVEP II), is funded by a loan from the World Bank and Global Environmental Fund.

Source: Ayiga Ondoga. New Vision / allAfrica.com, 27 June 2010

Zambia: KCM hands over sanitation facility

Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) on Monday handed over water and sanitation facilities built at a cost of K170 million at George Mwelwa Basic School in Chingola.

Chingola district commissioner Tobias Maliti said during the handover ceremony of the facilities that the amenities will ensure a favourable learning environment for staff and pupils.

Mr Maliti said the water and sanitation facilities are important to any existing community in Zambia and urged beneficiaries to guard them jealously.

He warned that there could not be any meaningful national development in the country without education and health services.

“We are happy that KCM has brought water and sanitation services to our children at George Mwelwa Basic School. We can now be rest assured that diseases such as cholera will be avoided following the services that have been brought to the school.

“Health and education are one of the most important areas that the government wants to achieve through the Millennium Development Goals and this is why Government allocates huge sums of money towards these two sectors,” Mr Maliti said.

He said KCM has continued to make quality health care accessible to many people in its areas of operation, through corporate social responsibility.

KCM human resources manager George Mutono said the water and sanitation project that the mining company handed over to the Government is a demonstration that it is ready to help improve the quality of life in Zambia. Mr Mutono said KCM’s vision is to help Zambia regain its status among the big league of copper producers in the near future.

“It’s our belief that George Mwelwa Basic School will benefit from the facilities we’ve handed over to the government. These are designed to create a more conducive learning environment. Clean water and decent sanitary facilities are the right of every Zambian,” he said.

Giving a vote of thanks, school head teacher Mary Musukwa said the school was opened in 2004 without any toilet and safe drinking water for a population of 500 pupils.

Meanwhile, KCM has electrified Mushima Basic School on the Chingola-Solwezi road at a cost of K40 million.
Mr Maliti commended KCM for funding the electrification of the school.

Mr Mutono said electrification of Mushima Basic School was done with the realisation that Zambia will not attain the Millennium Development Goals without such projects in schools.

Source: Alex Njovu, Zambia Daily Mail, 24 June 2010

Mozambique: Population of Pessane complains of water shortage

The population of the locality of Pessane, in Maputo province, on Thursday took advantage of a visit by Veronica Macamo, chairperson of the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, to complain about shortages of clean drinking water.

People who spoke at a rally in Pessane addressed by Macamo said that water shortages had been worsened by drought, leading to poor harvests and compromising all efforts to fight against poverty.

According to a press release from the Assembly, one Pessane resident, Baita Cossa, told Macamo they had to fetch drinking water from Machava, in the city of Matola, several kilometres away.

Each 20 litre tin of water, sold by private suppliers, cost 20 to 25 meticais (about 70 US cents), which Cossa regarded as exorbitant.

Other speakers complained of the lack of electricity in Pessane, stock theft, poor care for the elderly in local health units, and delays in handling applications for identity documents.

“In this administrative post, we don’t have any electricity, and this leads to an increase in crime”, said a man named Raimundo Nanombe. “Stock thieves make us of the darkness to threaten people and steal their goats”.

Macamo, who was elected from the Maputo Province constituency, told the rally that all the complaints raised will be channelled to the relevant authorities in the central and provincial governments.

She added that in making such visits she wanted to inform her electorate of the work done in parliament, and to gather people’s impressions of the implementation of the government Economic and Social Plan for this year.

Pessane is far from the only area in Maputo province suffering water shortages. Earlier this week, the independent daily “O Pais” carried a report that over 60 per cent of the population of Namaacha district, on the border with Swaziland face water problems.

Source: Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique / allAfrica.com, 24 June 2010

Ghana: Zoomlion’s “Bola” revolution!

Waste management, a major component of environmental sanitation has over the years been a headache for Ghanaian governments, local authorities and people in general.

While the growth of towns and cities has resulted in increased population, coupled with increased socio-economic activities, there has not been a corresponding increase in essential logistics for effective and efficient waste management services.

This has contributed immensely to the difficulties facing Metropolitan and District Assemblies (MMDAs), as well as the Central Government in efforts to improve upon the living environment of urban centres.

This undesirable situation does not only adversely impact on public health but also contributes to the upsurge in the incidence of such communicable diseases as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and malaria.

In 2006, Zoomlion appeared on the scene as a waste management company and it has been one major innovative upheaval in the sector.

There were waste management companies operating in the country prior to Zoomlion’s entry but they all seemed overwhelmed by the task at hand.

In only about 4 years, Zoomlion has become a household name in Ghana and it is not as if Ghanaians aren’t seeing rubbish around or that people are not indiscriminately littering around, but Zoomlion’s efficiency in working and helping in reducing the waste in the country has placed the company at the fore front of waste management in the country.

Zoomlion, through its requisite expertise, technical and managerial competence has been able to capture the hearts of an increasingly environmentally sensitive Ghanaian populace.

Employing a huge workforce, the company has some of the most modernized waste management equipment in the country including Compaction Trucks, Skip Loaders, Road Sweepers, Cesspit Emptiers, Water Tankers and Tricycle waste collectors.

It is no wonder that residents in the capital have felt “cheated” since the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) introduced its zonal programme which has now shifted Zoomlion from some areas opening the vacated areas to other companies.

The programme means Zoomlion is now assigned to specific areas, while other waste management companies also take to other communities in the city.

“Not that we want Zoomlion to take over everything, but they are good…I am at Achimota, but since they started this zonal programme and moved Zoomlion from here, come and see the heap of rubbish in my house,” a resident of Ashiaman, a suburb of Accra told The Mail.

Most residents The Mail have spoken to, complained that they are not certain when and how their waste bins will be emptied as they have no contact information of the said accredited waste contractors, except those of the AMA.

Some of them said they are left with no other choice than to transfer the waste in their containers into plastic bags and look for dumping sites to dispose of them.

At a recent media briefing on the company’s progress so far, the Communications Manager of Zoomlion, Mrs. Isabella Gyau-Orhin said the company is very comfortable with the new arrangement since it will help waste management companies to work effectively and efficiently in areas allocated to them.

She said it will save costs as companies will now have to expend resources only in the areas they are assigned to. She did however apologize to loyal, now former clients living outside Zoomlion’s assigned areas of operation for its inability to continue serving them as a result of the new arrangement.

With branches in Ghana and Angola, Zoomlion according to Mrs. Gyau-Orhin hopes to champion the cause of environmental sanitation services in the waste industry.

Zoomlion is planning to establish a waste management university course next year.The course would undertake fulltime instruction in waste management, sanitation and hygiene.

Zoomlion has also exchanged ideas with international waste management companies like TEDCOR (PTY) Ltd, South Africa – a South-South arrangement for technical cooperation and capacity building and training exposure for delivering quality and affordable solutions based on technical innovations.

Staff of Zoomlion have also had the opportunity of exchanging ideas with personnel from experienced waste management companies like Wasteman Pambilli also of South Africa, Nehlsen of Germany, Hubei of China, Ashock Leyland and Mahindra , truck companies in India.

Zoomlion has announced plans to go into farming. According to the management of the company, it is in discussion with the necessary institutions to identify areas in the northern part of Ghana, for the agric project.

The company’s interest would be mechanized agriculture, which they expect to create more job avenues.

With its high pedigree in Ghana and Angola, Zoomlion is being courted by Zambia, Senegal, The Gambia and other countries on the continent.

Source: Kofi Agyepong, Accra Mail / allAfrica.com, 22 June 2010

Kenya: KAA Sh700m sewer line upgrades waste disposal process

Airports Authority (KAA) has completed constructing a Sh700 million sewer line, revolutionalising the corporations’ waste disposal process.

The airport operator has concluded the modern drainpipe from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to the Nairobi City Council main sewer trunk line in Ruai.

KAA Corporate Affairs Manager, Dominic Ngigi said Sino Hydro Corporation Ltd, a Chinese firm that won the tender to construct the new line, completed the project in 15 months.

“The project was completed on schedule and everything is working properly,” he added.

He said the line has a capacity to accommodate neighbours and is in line with KAA’s corporate social responsibility of investing in sustainable projects that benefit all.

Ngigi said in addition to changing the corporations’ waste disposal process, the sewer has boosted property values for owners and residents of the Utawala and Ruai neighbourhood.

Value of property

According to Vineyard Property Developments, a real estate firm that operates in the Utawala and Ruai areas, since real estate growth goes in tandem with infrastructure development, property owners are cashing in on the new sewer line.

The firm added that property owners were factoring in the value of the project and raising prices, in some instances up to thrice what they were two years ago.

The KAA Corporate Affairs Manager, said residents living in or building houses close to the new sewer line are free to connect to the disposal facility though they must first liaise with the Nairobi City Council as per municipal regulations.

According to JKIA Acting Airport manager, Simon Githaiga, the original sewer facility was designed to cater for less than half a million people, but passenger traffic has since increased and soared to about seven million by 2008.

He, however, said it was a worthy investment as it was designed to serve the airport and residential areas in its environs efficiently for the next ten years and beyond.

Githaiga said in the face of a rising usage and dwindling capacity, the old sewer line system had been over-stretched, making it less cost effective.

Rising population

He explained that this led to a rapidly degenerating waste disposal system that coupled with the airport’s rising human population, necessitated intervention. According to Ngigi, KAA took the initiative and worked with the City Council to improve the situation by commissioning a feasibility study to construct an alternative pipeline using gravity and modern technology.

“The result was a new route that would snake through newly built up areas like Ruai and the upcoming Utawala estate that had no sewer connection from the Nairobi City Council,” he said.

Ngigi said there were no plans by the local authority to build one in the near future.

Source: John Oyuke, The Standard, 24 June 2010