Botswana: Need for robust public education on waste disposal, says PS Baipoledi

Botswana: The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs, Dr Kekgonne Baipoledi, says there is a need for robust public awareness campaigns and collective responsibility to curb sewer system misuse by the public.

The PS said this at a media tour of the Glen Valley Wastewater Treatment, where he was accompanied by Water Utilities Corporation and other ministry high officials to learn and appreciate the work done thus far at the plant.

He, however, appealed for more public education after hearing that foreign materials such as polythene bags, condoms and, in extreme cases, very bizarre objects such as old car tyres are thrown into manholes, which ultimately block these pipes.

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“The public ought to be sensitized about these issues of concern, especially with great opportunities that can be derived from the methane gas produced and the sludge which in some countries is used as pavers”.

Dr Baipoledi was delighted that the smell that the community has been crying about does not actually come from the plant itself but from the old broken pipes as a result and that work is in progress to ensure the elimination of the odour altogether.

Earlier on, WUC Production Engineer Mr Bruce Dikoloti expressed his concerns when giving a brief operation of the treatment. He decried old and faulty equipment and the current huge number of blockage reports as some of the challenges they have at the treatment plant.

The Glen Valley wastewater treatment plant is a central collection facility for the treatment of waste water from Gaborone and its peripherals and comprises a 90 MLD treatment plant, 17 pump stations and three series of Stabilization ponds.