Water quality is at the heart of NWSC operations. The Water Quality Department exists to ensure that the water supplied to NWSC customers meets WHO and National Standards for clean and safe water.
The department has increased its water quality monitoring footprint with seventy-five laboratories across different parts of the country manned by a skilled workforce of 122 water quality personnel. These are supervised by regional labs located in Kampala, Mbarara, Gulu and Mbale.
The department’s vision is “to be a world–class model of excellence in water quality and environmental management” and mission, “to provide efficient, reliable and professional water and wastewater quality management services through innovative solutions to the satisfaction of NWSC customers in an environmentally friendly manner.”
National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) is mandated to ensure that the quality of drinking water delivered to customers is of acceptable quality and the wastewater effluent discharged into the environment does not pose degradation risks.
Through its WQMD, NWSC ensures safe drinking-water supply and reduced pollution of water sources by enhancing wastewater treatment across the nation in a number of ways including but not limited to:
Enhancing capacity of the Central Laboratory
The department possesses a state-of-the-art Central Laboratory in Kampala which has recently been refurbished and upgraded with high-tech equipment to handle robust water quality monitoring. The Corporation has steadfastly worked towards enhancing water testing which has seen the Central Laboratory grow and evolve into one of the most recognized and efficient water testing laboratories in Uganda. Birthed in the 1970’s, the laboratory has grown from just handling simple basic water tests for only NWSC’s treated water to conducting over thirty water test parameters including heavy metals, pesticides and Trihalomethanes.
In addition, the Laboratory offers water quality testing services to external clients which has enhanced customers’ knowledge of their water sources while increasing revenue generated.
In order to increase assurance of its water test results and services, the management team of the Central Laboratory has embarked on a process of accrediting the Central and Gaba Laboratories under ISO 17025:2017.
Increased water quality monitoring footprint
In a bid to enhance the water quality monitoring foot print, a number of new labs have been constructed in different Areas whereas others have been refurbished and their capacity upgraded with more testing equipment.
Compliance to drinking-water and effluent standards
To ensure that the quality of water supplied and effluent discharged meet the compliance standards for drinking water and wastewater, the water quality personnel collect approximately 120,000 water samples and 6,000 wastewater samples for testing on a scheduled basis.
Customer complaints resolution
Rapid response teams have also been established to ensure quick action and resolution of customer complaints.
Rapid response teams handling customer complaints
In addition to enhancing its laboratories, NWSC also participates in routine Joint Water Quality Monitoring programs with key stakeholder organizations such as Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and the Ministry of Water and Environment (Directorate of Water Resources Management). This provides an opportunity for the Corporation to check compliance of its supplied drinking water on a regular basis.
Scheduled cleaning of water treatment units and supply installations
The WQMD has established cleaning and flushing schedules for all NWSC’s Water treatment and supply systems which are reviewed and updated on a quarterly basis. This is to ensure that all water treatment units and supply installations are regularly cleaned and disinfected for safe water supply.
Innovations to reduce water treatment costs
In a bid to reduce water treatment costs, a number of innovations developed through research have been implemented. For example, installation and use of onsite salt electrolysers for disinfection purposes rather than chlorine which is a relatively more expensive water disinfectant
Monitoring of water sources and catchment areas to address water treatment processes and climate challenges impacts
The WQMD, continues to work round the clock establishing innovations and engaging in activities and projects aimed at water source and catchment protection to address water treatment process challenges and the impacts of climate change. For example: tree planting to create pollution buffer zones which the Corporation does with the support of a group of passionate Young Water Professionals, engaging key stakeholders in fora such as the Pollution Task Force (PTF) aimed at establishing mitigation measures against pollution of water sources and piloting innovations such as iron removal using filtralite and hardness removal using ion exchange technology.
Although the Corporation has in the recent past faced challenges in water treatment as a result of climate change impacts such as droughts, floods and rising water body levels which affected water treatment processes. However, the Corporation has mitigated these effects in seriously affected Areas by installation of online dozers to improve accuracy in chemical dosing and the construction of gabion walls for Areas affected by rising water body levels.
Online water quality monitoring platforms
Online tools have been implemented such as the Bulk chemical tracking tool and the Water Quality Management Information System (WaQIMS) which have enhanced the department’s performance in tracking chemical consumption, monitoring the distribution network and reporting customer complaints.
