15 Jun 2016

The Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) water works superintendent, Mr Lopang Seporo has said Jwaneng has a generally poor sewage system due to the flat nature of the area.

Speaking in an interview, he said this made it difficult for waste material to flow easily since it needed gravity to move, hence causing blockages from time to time. 

He noted that even though they have a team which inserts screens that block solid material such as clothes, plastic bags and sanitary material, they were not enough for the 61 pump stations around the township.

He said that the WUC was looking into outsourcing such services by engaging a company that will be responsible for inserting such screens to prevent blockages caused by disposal of such material.

He said that even though some of the pumps had these screens, other designs did not have them and it was a challenge to insert the screens. 

“It is a difficult task that is why we need a highly professional and qualified company to do that,” he said. 

Furthermore, Mr Seporo said they were experiencing a challenge of oil from restaurants, which was disposed into the sewage system. This oil, he said, also caused blockages in the pipesHe said they have targeted the main employers in the township such as Debswana and Jwaneng Town Council to educate the employees about proper disposal of waste material. He said they teach them that the system is only meant for the disposal of water and not any other waste.

Mr Seporo said that the Debswana company has been very supportive in offering a helping hand to WUC, saying they had assisted them financially and also in checking their progress regarding tackling this situation. He also mentioned that Debswana was equally concerned about the poor sewage system because it was hindering their employees from living comfortably in a well hygienic environment that is why they will not stop at anything until the bad smell in the town is no more.

As a way of dealing with prevention of oils that block the pipes, he said they have recently introduced a Trade Effluent agreement in collaboration with the Jwaneng Town Council that they are giving to restaurants and other companies that dispose of oils. ENDS