Africa-Press – Angola. The city of Soyo, in Zaire province, will benefit from macro-drainage systems, with financial support from external multilateral organizations, announced the Minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, this Tuesday in the municipality.
In statements to the press, the minister informed that his sector has begun implementing five sanitation systems, with the support of the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the French Development Agency, projects in which the city of Soyo is integrated.
He acknowledged that the region faces serious problems in the treatment of wastewater and rainwater, due to its location at sea level, which is why, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Zaire, a plan for the development of sanitation systems is being defined, which should also cover the city of Mbanza Kongo.According to the minister, these are projects to be implemented in the short term, but with medium- and long-term impact, emphasizing that sanitation is directly linked to the water sector and has a close relationship with public health, therefore constituting a priority for the Executive.
“We are talking about Soyo, but there are other cities in the country with high population density that also need these systems,” he clarified, adding that the increase in the volume of drinking water distributed to the population also implies an increase in wastewater that requires adequate treatment.
He explained that about 85 percent of the distributed water becomes wastewater, which makes it essential to install sanitation systems, Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs), and other infrastructure that allows this water to be channeled to natural drainage lines, rivers, and seas for purposes such as irrigation, among others.The Minister of Energy and Water was speaking to the press after inspecting the operation of the Soyo Combined Cycle Power Plant, as part of a 48-hour working visit to Zaire province aimed at evaluating the main infrastructure in the sector under his responsibility.
