The Katima Mulilo Town Council has officially handed over the site for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant, following the acquisition of an environmental clearance certificate.

The water treatment plant is expected to address some of the long-standing challenges facing Katima Mulilo's sewerage system, including frequent waste water overflows.

The project will also introduce the recycling and reuse of treated wastewater, with the potential for the water to be used for irrigation.

The existing sewer network infrastructure will also be upgraded.

Katima Mulilo Mayor, Kabende Kabende explained the situation.

“This will alleviate the pressures we have on our existing network infrastructure, in terms of sewer, the majority of which is aged and was not able to hold the existing capacity; however, we will increase that capacity for us to be able to cater to the growth of the town for the next 20 years.”

Once the treatment plant has become operational, the council will decommission the existing oxidation plant.

Group Chief Operating Officer of Fullbright Water Invention Verde stressed that the project has faced delays in getting off of the ground due to the lengthy process of obtaining an environmental clearance certificate as well as the relocation of residents living in proximity.

“Now that we have received it, it's a critical point on our project, and we obviously take it forward. What we would like is to request the patience of the citizens of the town; usually when you're doing sewer works, there is a lot of discomfort that may happen, and we request the patience of the citizens for the next 13 to 14 months.”

Standard Bank Namibia and Old Mutual funded the project at a cost of N$450 million.