PIP Report

LWSC CONTINUES TO RECORD PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN SEWERAGE SERVICES  

By Nshamba Muzungu

Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company (LWSC) has continued to record improvements in operations under the Lusaka Sanitation Program (LSP) World Bank supported  Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), which is aimed at addressing challenges in operations such as sewer blockages, long response time to complaints and inefficient complaint receipt system.                                                                                                                                                    

The performance improvement plan which was developed in 2019 has a budget of US$ 250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars), is being implemented in an effort to improve service delivery. To support the improvement of operations and maintenance of the sewer system, LWSC, through LSP has procured various sewer maintenance equipment for enhanced service delivery. 

The latest report for January 2021 reveals that LWSC has recorded above average performance with sewer cleaning standing at 52.4 km of sewers cleaned against a target of 30km; a total of 36 manholes were raised against a target of 25 per month; 32 manholes were replaced against a target of 25 and 38 manholes repaired to avoid ingress of storm water.   

The general objective of the performance improvement plan (PIP) which started in January 2019 is to ensure efficient operation and maintenance of the sewer network. This objective was envisioned to be attained through the following specific objectives:                                                                      1.To reduce Blockages per km in sewers from the current 50 to 30 blockages/100km during dry and 150 to 110 blockages/100km during wet season (100 to 70 blockages/100km/year)

2. At least 30% Blockages cleared within 48 hours after being reported from the current of 20% in 48 hours.

3. Sustain operations at Waste Water Treatment Plants pending rehabilitation and/ decommissioning

4. Improve monitoring of Trade Effluent by increasing the number of properties monitored from 59 to 70.

The performance results for each objective is as follows:

• Clean 1,126 Km of sewers have been cleaned against a target of 750 since January 2019 
• A total of 736 manholes have been raised against at target of 625 manholes each month
• A total of 822 manhole covers have been replaced in various areas of the city against a target of 625. Vandalism of manholes continues to be a major challenge to service delivery    
• A total of 685 manholes have been repaired against        a target of 625 manholes
• A total of 32, 127 meters of damaged sewers have been replaced against a target of 27 072 meters

Blockage occurrence performance had been poor in the dry season but the target of 110 blockages per 100km was met in the rainy season since January 2019. Performance is expected to improve with the commissioning of the vacuum jetting combination trucks. 

At least 30% Blockages cleared within 48 hours after being reported from the current of 20% in 48 hours.

Performance of about 28% has been achieved against a target of 30% from a baseline of 20%. Improvements in objective 1 are expected to result in improvement of performance in this objective. 

The results show a steady improvement from 20% in 2019 to 28.5% as of January 2021. This is an increase of 6.5%. Though there was a steady increase in the resolution of complaints, there were also fluctuations. Despite the 6.5% increase, the project could not go beyond 30% as was initially envisioned. 

In order to achieve this objective, LWSC has undertaken the following activities:

• Repaired the grit elevator at Manchinchi Treatment plant 
• Restored treatment stream No. 1and 2 at Manchinchi Treatment plant  
• Procured Mono Pump spares for Manchinchi and Chunga Treatment plants 

It is expected that with the execution of the above activities, the facilities would be sustained in operations as decommissioning is being awaited.

In order to achieve this objective, LWSC carried out the following activities; installation and commissioning of the new laboratory equipment, training of Laboratory staff in the operations of the laboratory equipment, increasing  the number of properties monitored  from the 59 to 70 and lastly increased the number of parameters being monitored

A total of 86 industries are being monitored against the targeted 70 properties. This shows a good performance of 16 properties above the target of 70.  Industrial effluent causes damage to sewer infrastructure because some of the waste is corrosive. Fat levels are also monitored to avoid blockages when discharged into the network. 

Background 

Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company (LWSC) on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) is implementing the Lusaka Sanitation Program (LSP). LSP is the first step towards implementing of the Sanitation Master Plan aims at improving access to adequate sanitation services. The project aims at improving sanitation and protecting ground water, which has in the recent years been threatened by extensive use of pit latrines in the peri-urban areas. The program is earmarked to improve lives of 500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand) people in selected parts of Lusaka.

The mission of LSP is to reach universal sanitation coverage and improved sanitation behavior in Lusaka by 2030 by offering innovative, user-friendly and affordable sanitation products and services.