Africa-Press – Botswana. Educating and engaging the public on wastewater treatment is vital, says the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs, Dr Kekgonne Baipoledi.
Speaking during the visit to Glen Valley waste water treatment project, in Gaborone on Monday Dr Baipoledi said developing and maintaining a positive relationship with customers was vital.
The purpose of the visit was to appreciate the progress made thus far on the project implemented through public private partnership.
Dr Baipoledi commended Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) for the progress and improvements made especially on the quality of water and urged the corporation to address the stench stemming from the sewage pond.
Dr Baipoledi said “most people may never think about wastewater, where it goes or the complexities involved in providing this service. Despite this, the public often want to provide input to local government on the impact and cost of these facilities and services.”
For public input to be useful, he said, there should be both public education and an established efficient process by which the public might participate in discussions regarding their wastewater utility.
Dr Baipoledi further urged the WUC to educate its customers regarding the services, user responsibilities, processes and the water quality goals that those utilities support.
WUC production engineer Mr Bruce Dikoloti decried misuse of sewage system, saying that it was the main challenge they faced.
Sewage treatment works more often receives far more than what it had been designed to process, treat and discharge, he said.
Mr Dikoloti explained thatsome of the substances being discovered in sewerage systems did not belong there.
“Just to name a few to a larger extent are oil and grease, toxic chemicals, construction materials, big chunks of solid matters and waste from automobile workshops and processing water from slaughter houses,” he said.
He therefore pleaded with the public to use proper waste disposal methods to avoid damaging the sewage system through blockages thereby affecting biological activity of treatment processes and damaging treatment equipment.
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