Phosphorus removal in macrophyte based treatment

Phosphorus removal in macrophyte based treatmen

Training for improved decentralized service delivery - a case study from Uganda

The introduction of decentralization and decentralized service delivery in Uganda placed an increased demand for qualified personnel at the districts and lower levels. Despite this, there were no efforts in the past to enlighten students and trainers at Makerere University about the existing gaps and opportunities available in districts so that the training could be tuned to the needs of the districts. In the year 2000, the Department of Civil Engineering in Makerere University started a pilot project to attach students to the technical departments of the district local governments to undertake internship training for a period of 8 weeks. The students were supervised by staff from districts and the Department of Civil Engineering, Makerere University. The project was financed by the Rockefeller foundation and the World Bank. Since then, 72 students (11 during the pilot and 61 during the full implementation phase) have undergone internship training in 9 districts in Uganda. Eleven (11) Makerere staff and over 90 district staff were involved in the project. A training manual was developed, relevant research to solve technical problems and assist the districts in improved service delivery was identified, and efforts are under way to evaluate the project and quantify the impact

Characterization of peri-urban anthropogenic pollution in Kampala, Uganda

Effective improvement of the current poor environmental sanitation in peri-urban Kampala requires an understanding of pollutant characteristics (types, sources, locations and loads). As part of an on going study, this paper presents pollution characteristics in Bwaise III and challenges encountered during the period 2002-3. Findings show that pit latrines are a major source of pollution as far as pathogenic bacteria and nutrients are concerned (14.5E20 cfu TTC /yr, 41,775kgN/yr and 6,680KgP/yr). Drains on the other hand, though they have lower levels of nutrients (980kgTKN/yr and 80kgP/yr for sullage) are recipients of runoff, solid waste and faecal matter and hence a major problem in the area especially during the rains. The impact of these on the environment and community health are mutually reinforcing. Challenges encountered during the study have been overcome largely by dialogue. Management strategies and mitigation measures for these areas require the collective participation of communities, authorities and policy makers

Role of wetlands in wastewater purification

Role of wetlands in wastewater purificatio

Performance evaluation of drinking water treatment plants in Kampala - case of Ggaba II

Kampala water treatment plant (Ggaba II) was evaluated in terms of performance, design, operation and maintenance. The evaluation was done across the dry and wet seasons, measuring physical-chemical parameters. Receding water level of Lake Victoria combined with poor quality of water at the intakes affected the supply of water in Kampala and the neighbouring districts. There was considerable increase in the colour of about two fold at the intake works during the period 1997 to 2005 with increased chemical usage to achieve acceptable standards. The conditions of operation and maintenance were also found to be deficient with some design and construction problems as well. The annual mean colour of the finished water was found to be significantly above the National standard value of 15 Ptu with 53.4% of samples not compliant. 21.6% and 9.3% of the samples taken were not compliant with the WHO pH and turbidity values respectively

People and puddles: is drainage important?

Water and sanitation projects have tended to focus on the provision of water supply, with sanitation aspects given a lower priority. Soft aspects such as hygiene promotion – an essential ingredient for health improvements, also lack the same status as hard engineering components. Environmental health however is not just limited to the provision of safe water and the disposal of faeces; solid waste management and drainage of rainwater are also important issues. Drainage does not have a high profile. In the last seven years there have only been two papers relating specifically to drainage and about eight others that examine a related aspect, such as pollution of watercourses or groundwater or large-scale rainwater harvesting. A DFID sponsored project is examining the issues that lie behind the implementation of urban drainage projects and to see if alternative drainage technologies are appropriate in developing countries. This paper sets out the background to this project and discusses the problems of introducing a new technology

Rehabilitation of protected springs in Kampala, Uganda

Rehabilitation of protected springs in Kampala, Ugand