Site Engineer Abert Edema explains how the Kikoma water treatment plant in Sembabule will operate
About 170,000 people in Sembabule district are set to get clean water, fair tariffs and expanded water consumption after completion of Shs14.3bn water supply project being implemented by National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC).
The project, fully funded by NWSC, is aimed at increasing consumption of clean water in Sembabule town and the surrounding areas.
The project is located at Kyojja in Sembabule town adjacent to River Kyojja.
According to Engineer Denis Taremwa, The Project Manager, Sembabule has infrastructure inefficiencies in the water supply system including limited water supply, poor water pipes network, unharnessed river water, expensive water by vendors, use of runoff pond water for domestic use among other challenges.
“When National Water and Sewerage Corporation took over water supply operations in Sembabule, many interventions were made; we realized the water supply was only covering a small part of Sembabule town, we found inefficiencies in the water supply infrastructure with frequent water pipe bursts; water vendors sold a jerrycan between Shs500 to Shs1,000,” Taremwa said.
In an interview, Engineer Taremwa said that the project idea was adopted in 2018 and civil works started in May 2020 by Zhonghao Overseas Construction Engineering Limited.
He revealed that construction works are 70% complete. He said that some of the components were awarded to local contractors including workers, local materials like sand, iron bars, pipes, murram, cement among others.
He said civil works will be complete in May 2021 as scheduled.
“We have laid 100km pipes in Sembabule and the surrounding areas to replace the small pipes. The treatment plant under construction will care for both current and future supply needs; we are targeting 170,000 people. Now civil works are at 70% and we are waiting for importation of tanks, pipes, and electrical materials which are at different stages of being delivered at the site,” he said.
Challenges
Eng. Taremwa said that although there have been challenges including COVID-19, electioneering, the rainy season which delayed importation and works, the implementation has kept going on.
During a site visit in Kikoma Treatment plant in Sembabule district recently, Engineer Albert Edema, the resident Site Engineer explained that given the capacity of of the treatment plant of 3 million litres per day compared to the current population.
The plant will serve the communities in Sembabule over 20 years before operating to full capacity. He said that the communities who are characterized by cattle farmers, business people, crop farmers will boost their production.
“The treatment plant production capacity is 3000 cubic metres per day. This design is projected for a horizon period of minimum 20 years. Once the production starts, the plant will be serving below production capacity but as the population rises over time, the consumption will match production,“ he said.
While in another site at the main reservoir tank situated on the hill in Sembabule town, Engineer Edema said that the combination of the main reservoir tank, the treatment plant, the 3 boosters, the raw water intake plant and the pipeline system will solve the water challenge in Sembabule especially the business community, the cattle farmers, crop farmers and homes among other beneficiaries.
Among the sub counties Eng. Edema pointed out as beneficiaries of the new water supply system includes; Lugusulu, Mateete, Mabindo, Mwijwara, Lwebitakulu among others.
“The production capacity of this water supply system will benefit both people and animals. It’s envisaged once the system becomes operational, water supply problem will be fully solved in Sembabule. There will be no reason why Sembabule can’t take off,” he narrated.
Eng. Edema however said that the project has faced the challenge of land acquisition especially the resistance and hiking of prices by land owners which he said is delaying the project as negotiations with them through local leaders take much time.
By Drake Nyamugabwa
