The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) is putting final touches on a new water treatment plant in Katosi, with the system undergoing testing prior to commissioning.
According to NWSC Director Engineering Services, Eng Alex Gisagara, system tests for the new plant situated at Katosi in Mukono District have commenced.
Eng Gisagara says works on the 240 million litres per day water production plant is near completion with 95% of project works completed. The new plant, according to NWSC, will serve over 7.5 million people in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono up to 2040.
“The following tests and final project works are ongoing; Testing and commisioning of different Plant electrical control units, Raw water and treated water pumps all installed and connected to power grid, Offshore pipeline (500m) already laid on the lake bed (connection of the strainer currently ongoing), More than 8.0km out of 9.5km of the pumping main already laid and undergoing pressure testing. Final finishes on the process and none-process buildings/structures are ongoing and Land scaping and greening of the Plant currently ongoing” he shared
Eng Denis Taremwa, the Project Manager, said that works are on course with the first drop of water expected to reach the new Nsumba water reservoirs by the end of April 2021.
New Technology
The Deputy Managing Director Technical Services Eng Johnson Amayo said that the utility is moving away from the traditional treatment of water by sedimentation to the use of dissolved air floatation, in order to deal with the problem of increasing algae on Lake Victoria.
“Upon completion, the Katosi plant will be the first and biggest plant in East and Central Africa using the AquaDAF and AquaZur technologies” he said
The state of the art plant shall incorporate water recycling and sludge thickening to minimise plant losses and promote environmental conservation.
Project Scope
• A 500m offshore abstraction pipeline into Lake Victoria.
• A scada system that will be integrated with the existing NWSC installations
• A modern laboratory to enhance water quality monitoring and management
• A mechanical workshop
•A compact wastewater treatment plant
•A solid waste handling and incineration facility
• A modern staff housing estate with modern amenities and recreation facilities
Katosi water transmission network at a glance
From the plant, water shall be pumped to the new Nsumba reservoirs (40million litres capacity) through a 9.5km bulk DN1400mm pipeline. The water shall thereafter gravitate to Kampala via Mukono – Seeta – Sonde – Namugongo, through a 55km DN1400mm bulk pipeline.
The Project also entails construction of a 15 million litre reservoir in Sonde and booster station in Namugongo. The project also has a component to supply water to Katosi, Lugazi town and the surrounding areas.