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NWSC, WATER FOR PEOPLE & IRC IN CONCERTED EFFORT TO IMPROVE WATER SUPPLY RELIABILITY AND TURN FAECAL SLUDGE INTO FUEL BRIQUETTES

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For many years in Africa, faecal sludge has remained regarded as a hazardous material. Its products are normally challenged by community attitudes due to various beliefs and taboos around faecal handling.

However, one product of faecal sludge that one mustn’t worry about and is most likely to be free of pathogens is the briquette, as the pathogens are killed during the carbonization (burning materials that contain Carbon) or pyrolysis process that requires high temperatures. The process of carbonization completely changes the physical appearance of faecal sludge to char.

On the other hand, Uganda has continued to lose its natural forest cover currently estimated at 8%, according to the National Forestry Authority (NFA). The forest cover was 9% in 2015 and declined from 11% in 2011.  The forest cover was estimated at 24% in 1990 and this reduced from 45% of the land cover about a century ago.  

Based on this premise, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has moved to extend its partnership with US-based NGO, Water for People, and also bring on board the IRC to support water sanitation and hygiene services, drive change, enhance research, develop new tools and approaches to planning and develop and deliver resilient WASH systems in an alliance. 

All three partners met at the NWSC Head Offices in Nakasero, Kampala, with the NWSC Managing Director, Dr Eng. Silver Mugisha at the helm.  Speaking at the meeting, Dr Eng Mugisha was keen to note that NWSC has established enough capacity to have project designs done in-house to reduce the costs of contracting consultants: Sighting very successful projects in Sembabule and Kapeeka.  He also appreciated the meaningful synergies NWSC and Water for People are taking advantage of.  

Water for People is a partner inspired by our purpose and their strategy intersects ours in very many ways,’ stated Dr Eng Mugisha. He added that there should be persistent innovation to meet the ever-changing standards as far as water production is concerned and faecal sludge management.

Notably, Faecal sludge briquettes can be used to replace the wooden charcoal briquettes hence reducing pressure onto the forests in search for charcoal consequently conserving the environment. Additionally, charcoal briquettes from faecal matter last for six to eight hours as opposed to ordinary briquettes that burn for three hours.

Key Resolutions as per the meeting were; a memorandum of understanding will be signed to renew the partnership, Kamwenge to get small safelight reservoirs while optimizing rationing schedules, Alliance to set up different committees at the district level to foresee the works, Water for People to increase demand for briquettes to meet the available supply of faecal sludge from NWSC, NWSC  to incorporate provisions for Gulping technology at the different plants, for instance, Nalukolongo and Kajansi,  the Pallisa plant to start benchmarking from Lubigi to improve efficiency and, the MOU and partnership should contribute to key government documents such as the NRM manifesto, NWSC Corporate Plan and the Local Government Development Plan.   

More to the resolutions was that; the Multi-stakeholder partnership will raise the profile of WATSAN through the Destination 30 Alliance which is a vision to ensure better water and hygiene services, the Alliance will also play a role in adding their voices to the global sphere as far as water and sanitation are concerned and, a catchment protection system will be established in Mpanga through this concerted effort.

NWSC was commended for the management of hazardous waste especially at Lubigi whereas, Water for People has since streamlined its structure to boost the market for briquettes, with the organization hiring a dedicated Managing Director and a Salesperson to that effect.    

 

Also in attendance to represent NWSC was; the Director of Regional Operations-Eng. Edmond Okaranon who co-chaired the session, Senior Manager Sewer Services-Eng. James Maiteki, Senior Manager Corporate Strategy-Mr. Godfrey Katongole, Manager Public Relations HQ – Sheba Bamwine, Area Manager Mr. Joseph Mulinde and Mr Denis Muramuzi.

NWSC remains committed to Water for All.

Written By: Allan Mwesiga

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