24 Jun 2021

Water Utilities Corporation has partnered with UNDP and Department of Energy to implement the Trade Effluent Agreement, says the corporation’s Gaborone general manager Mr Seabe Mabua.

Speaking during a Gaborone full council meeting on Tuesday, he said implementation included a pilot project to monitor six major polluters. 

Mr Mabua said UNDP would engage a consultant to monitor identified industries, carry out inspections and wastewater samplings, analysis and recommend pretreatment methods as a way of complying with the agreement. 

He said data collection would be done over a six-month period.

The agreement would develop a green certification treatment framework with the intention of giving incentives to industries  complying with the agreement on both energy and water, he said. 

Mr Mabua said WUC would undertake agreement awareness campaigns through all media channels as well as  road shows.

 The public, industries and government departments would be sensitised about wastewater management, proper use of sewers and industrial wastewater monitoring, he explained.

Mr Mabua said UNDP also intended to promote production and utilisation of bio-gas from agro-waste.

 The aim was to assist government through institutional strengthening and capacity development, facilitation and establishment of  bio-gas plants as well as setting up of utilisation and knowledge platforms, he said. 

He revealed that a Glen Valley bio-gas digester resuscitation pilot project for production of  methane gas to power some WUC plant components was ongoing. 

Among other major undertakings Mr Mabua mentioned the P897 million water supply improvement project, Glen Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant rehabilitation and Sewer Network Emergency works.

He said the sewer project would serve as a central collection waste water treatment facility for Gaborone, Mogoditshane, Gabane, Metsimotlhabe cluster and Tlokweng. 

The project comprised a 90 MLD treatment plant, 18 pump stations and three series of stabilisation ponds, he said. 

Meanwhile, Mr Mabua has said WUC was owed about P75 million by businesses, P8 million by the council while domestic cosumers’ debt amounted to P292 million.

He encouraged customers to pay their water bills through online platforms. 

In response, councillors called on WUC to issue correct water bills with Mosekangwetsi Ward Councillor Tshenolo Palai decrying unfair estimates and insisting on correct metre readings. Ends