Solwezi faces sanitation challenges
Written by Millennium on June 6, 2019
GLORIA KANGWA writes
@SunZambian
CONSTRUCTORS in Solwezi should consider decentralized septic tanks to improve sanitation, say former Engineers Institution of Zambia (EIZ) North-Western Province president Mufalo Kabika
Engineer Kabika said the district’s differences in ground levels made it unhealthy for the construction of improper individualized r cesspits, septic tanks and soakaways.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Kabika said the move would be extremely ideal considering the increased population of Solwezi urban by 138% between 2000 and 2010.
He said the informal settlements that had come up in several locations were making it difficult for the Solwezi Municipal council to fulfill on its mandate to plan and develop areas adequately.
Mr Kabika who is the technical expert for the province water utility company North Western Water Supply and Sewerage Company Limited (NWWSSCL) said the increased population required an additional creation for sanitation services.
“To actualize Vision 2030, we require a sustainable solution that will take into consideration the plight of the poor and marginalized communities on an onsite solution that can reduce maintenance cost and seepage problems which can be done through the decentralization of septic tanks,
“With the increased population not all septic tanks can be visited especially with low number of septic system companies we have, putting up a doom shaped septic system would be beneficial than the ordinary rectangular known one”, he said
Mr Kabika said the decentralized doom shaped septic tanks when installed properly could also be used as a means of cooking which has been proved healthy by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) in terms of effluent data.
