Septic tanks to the rescue in Kisumu waste disposal
By Kepher Otieno, February 6, 2023For years most residents living in the informal settlements in Kisumu City have been relying on septic tanks to dispose of sewage or wastes into the environment.
But, as the lakeside city population continues to grow, more land is being developed and the usage of public sewers as opposed to septic tanks is steadily on the rise.
Currently, Kisumu’s population is estimated to stand at 619,456. This is exerting pressure on land, space and resources.
In 1950, the population of Kisumu city was 12,103, according to population estimates from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects.
In 2019, the city population had shot to 400,000, according to the 2019 National Housing census, with many people migrating from rural to urban areas.
And today, Kisumu County’s rural population has also grown to 714,668 which combined with the urban numbers totals about 1,155,574.
Population growth
So the health risks associated with population growth and overreliance on the use of septic tanks where the water table is very high have also grown in space.
Kisumu water and sanitation development officer Samwel Ouko, admits that there are several estates and homesteads where when it rains their septic tanks overflow.
Ouko who works at Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company, (Kiwasco), says waste can be dangerous to the environment and human health if not disposed of properly.
This calls for proper planning and the use of modern tools in a sustainable and balanced manner that will ensure high health standards without polluting the environment.
The echoing reason is that Septic tanks in most cases, overflow if there is too much waste in the tank during the rainy season.
“This is common, especially in the fast-growing estates of Obunga, Bandani, lower Riat area, Nyalenda, and Kanyamedha estates among others,’’ Ouko observed.
So, he explains there is a high risk of pollutants from the septic system entering the drinking water supply chains, and the surface where the water table is very high.
Children and pets can unknowingly be exposed to this hazard which can cause illness when the septic overflows into their open playing fields.
“But the risk depends on how close one or the households or homesteads are to a well or stream or river or the Lake, where the septic tank is located,’’ he says
In as much as the waste treatment plants are able to remove bacteria and other toxic substances, Ouko claims large amounts of raw sewage can overwhelm them.
“This is the reason, we have now embarked on active market activation campaigns to urge families and/or landlords to connect to public sewers,’’ Ouko says
The main reason is to reduce the disease burden and environmental and health concerns that come with the use of septink tanks and their disposal system.
“At the moment we have recorded a number of illegal dumping of wastes anyhow within some of the open fields or hidden bush in the estates. This is hazardous.’’
It is why again, many urban dwellers today want their houses or homesteads connected to the main city sewer lines which are properly treated before discharge.
Sewer line
An open drain field means that the septic tanks vent pipe is not covered and water can flow out of the septic tank properly, without blocking it, exposing people to risk. When this happens, water will start flowing into people’s houses or estates through the sewer line.
He avers that public sewer is also more efficient than a septic tank because a public sewer system can be used to collect wastewater from many homes and businesses. Ouko claimed that those connected to the sewer lines will pay normal monthly water bills charged for service maintenance and costs accrued per month.